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Box Score 2 UNO-AAMU Box Scores - Game 1 - Game 2
NORMAL, Ala. - Alabama A&M swept a Saturday doubleheader against the University of New Orleans, winning 10-0 in the opening game before closing out the sweep with a 5-4 victory in the next game.
AAMU (6-23) snapped a three-game losing streak with their pair of victories on Saturday, starting with the opening game in which the duo of Manny Lora and Dema Steward combined for a complete game shutout.
Lora (2-3) allowed nine hits while not yielding a run in seven innings of work to start the game for the Bulldogs, before Steward went a single inning without allowing a hit to close out the contest.
The loss was the sixth shutout of the year for UNO (2-29), tying the school record of six set in 39 games in 1971 and 55 games in 2004.
AAMU scored eight of the game's runs off of Privateer starter Robert Ormsbee (0-6), who allowed 15 hits while striking out six in the seven innings he pitched. AAMU scored the final two runs off of Corey Laudermill, who did not record an out in the eighth before the game was called with no outs and runner on base.
Sanchez Tucker was 4-for-5 with three runs and two RBIs to lead the Bulldogs. Eric Brandon and Kency Duarte each added a 3-for-4 performance as AAMU had three additional players with at least two hits.
Michael Ballero and Cameron Wheeless posted matching 2-for-2 efforts for UNO in the contest.
In the second game, the Privateers got their act together offensively late in the contest with a run in the sixth and a pair of scores in the seventh, but it was too late in a game scheduled for just seven innings.
A game after contributing to the offensive performance, AAMU got a strong pitching performance from Tucker (2-7). Tucker allowed four runs on six hits before bowing out after 6 1/3 innings.
Eric Brandon relieved Tucker by walking two batters, putting the Bulldogs in jeopardy of the loss before James W. Brown picked up the team's first save by inducing a double play.
AAMU scored a run apiece in the first, third and fourth innings, maintaining a 3-1 lead before the UNO offense came to life.
Steffan Farrell hit a home run in the sixth inning with walks leading to runs by Wheeless and Chris Geronimo in the seventh. An error and a pair of walks allowed an earlier run by Hunter Boudreaux in the second, who would eventually ground into the game-ending double play in the seventh.
Zach Kelt (1-6) pitched the first complete game of the season in the loss, allowing five runs – four earned – on 10 hits while striking out six.
The two teams will bring their series to a close on Sunday at 12 p.m.
