Box Score UNO-TLN Box Score
NEW ORLEANS – Tulane's two-run fourth inning proved to be the difference in a 3-1 victory over New Orleans on Wednesday evening at Turchin Stadium.
TU (23-22) was held without a hit for the first three innings of the contest before taking advantage of a pair of hits and a walk in the fourth against UNO (7-40) starting pitcher
Alex Smith (3-8).
Luke Carthon tripled to lead off the frame against Smith before a walk issued to Brandon Boudreaux put runners on the corners. A Garrett Cannizaro ground ball plated Carthon with Sean Potkay singling in Boudreaux to make it 2-1 in favor of the hosts.
The Green Wave added one final run in the eighth after Nick DiMaggio led off the frame with a double. DiMaggio scored on a Cannizaro sacrifice fly, the third baseman's second RBI of a 0-for-3 effort at the plate.
The DiMaggio hit was only the fourth allowed by Smith, who departed after yielding a trio of runs during 7.1 innings on the mound. The appearance was Smith's eighth start of the season in which he lasted at least seven innings.
UNO's only run of the contest came in the first when
Dan Perkins singled with an out on the board, before stealing second and advancing to third on an error. An
Andre Damiens double brought Perkins home.
“Alex (Smith) does his thing, gives us another great appearance and gives us an opportunity before our bats were silenced,” said UNO head coach Bruce Peddie.
After the opening inning, the Privateers had just four hits with their best opportunity to add their count coming in the eighth.
Seth Laigast completed a 2-for-3 performance with a single before
Zach Liberto singled two batters later against TU started Randy LeBlanc (3-3).
LeBlanc allowed six hits over 7.2 innings before Ian Gibaut managed his way out of the two-on, two-out jam in the eighth before closing out UNO in the ninth for his 10
th save. The Green Wave was led by Potkay, who was 2-for-3 in the contest.
The game was the fourth this season between the two in-city schools to be determined by two runs or less. All four games took place at Turchin Stadium.
“Our guys have not rolled over, they continue to show up to work, they continue to battle and give us a good effort,” said Peddie. ”It is tough to come across town four times in a year.”
“The one good exciting thing about it today, is that it's the third day of them working on Maestri Field. It is difficult, but it is not an excuse and you would certainly have liked to have a home game against a team like this. Maybe things are different on grass instead of turf.
The Privateers will resume their season on Thursday at 3 p.m. in a doubleheader against Mississippi Valley State in Summit, Miss. The games will take place at Southwest Mississippi Community College and are free to the public.
Blake Prest and
Daniel Martinez will take the mound for UNO.
NOTES
Dan Perkins extended his team-best hitting streak to five games with a first inning single…
Andre Damiens has tallied RBIs in four of the last five games. The designated hitter has 10 RBIs on the season with five over the last five contests… The two-hit game for
Seth Laigast was his first since the season opener on Feb. 15 against Southeast Missouri State… UNO and Tulane will play two out of three at a renovated Maestri Field in 2014. Information on a groundbreaking ceremony will be made available shortly.
