BATON ROUGE, La. - The University of New Orleans baseball
program will open its 2011 campaign on Friday when it travels to face in-state
rival Southern in the first game of a split three-game series at Lee Hines
Field.
First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6 p.m. with the
series moving to Maestri Field on Saturday for a 4 p.m. start before turning to
Baton Rouge for the series finale at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
There will be no live audio or video over the weekend, with
live stats and Twitter updates planned for Saturday's home contest.
UNO posted a 13-39 mark last year and will compete as an
NCAA Division I Independent in 2011 as part of the school's intended
reclassification to NCAA Division II competition.
The Privateer baseball program previously participated as an
NCAA Division I Independent from 1980 through 1987 under coaches Ron Maestri
and Tom Schwaner, qualifying for the NCAA tournament on six separate occasions
during the eight-year span of time, including a 1984 College World Series
appearance, the first by a Division I program in the state of Louisiana.
This year's squad under head coach Bruce Peddie will have a
different task laid before them.
With just three scholarship players on the roster, the team
will proceed to play a schedule full of Division I opponents and just 11
contests on the Lakefront.
Of the three weekend starters against Southern (25-22 in
2010), just Friday starter Cory Myers (0-2, 10.24 ERA in 2010) has pitched for
the Privateers.
Saturday starter Zach Kelt and Sunday starter Robert Ormbsee
are making their first appearance for UNO after transferring in from Hinds
Community College and LSU-Alexandria, respectively.
Nolan Church is the top returning bat for the Privateers
after leading the team with a .328 batting average last year. JUCO transfers Cameron Wheeless at third base
and Andrew Garcia in the outfield could also factor in offensively for UNO.
SU has two former Privateer players on the roster in Clint
Ourso and Roddarick Jones.
Ourso made 13 appearances as the third-string catcher for
the Privateers last season, while Jones who is sitting out this season, was the
regular left fielder for UNO in 2009 and 2010.
Jaguars' head coach Roger Cador will send RHP Daniel Garcia
to the mound on Friday and LHP Jesse Holiday on Saturday with a starter. Garcia
will be making his first appearance since posting a 4-1 record with a 3.08 ERA
in 2009 with Holiday going 5-0 with a 4.17 ERA in 2010 with four starts amongst
13 appearances. A Sunday starter has not been named.
Following this weekend's series, UNO will face nationally-ranked LSU on Tuesday at Alex Box Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
