NEW ORLEANS, La. – The New Orleans Privateers baseball team (2-3) will play their first midweek games of the season in a two-game set against the Texas Southern Tigers (2-6). Both games will be played at Wesley Barrow Stadium on Tuesday and Wednesday, with start times of 6:30 p.m. for each.
The Privateers are coming off a weekend split against former Sun Belt rival, South Alabama. The third game of the series was canceled due to rain. After being held to just three hits in a series opening 5-0 loss, the Privateers bats pounded out 10 hits as part of a 4-3 win.
Cameron Hoffman delivered the game-winning hit, a two-run home run in the seventh inning to break a 2-2 tie. It was the first home run by a New Orleans hitter this season, and for Hoffman it was part of a three-hit day. Hoffman had two hits in his first 15 at-bats before Saturday's performance.
New Orleans has been keyed by strong pitching early on, especially out of the bullpen. Privateers relievers have allowed just three earned runs in 21.0 innings pitched this season.
Hunter Medine has allowed one base runner in his first three appearances to lead the way. Saturday also marked the first win for
Seth Laigast and the second career save for
Raymond Winter.
In school history, the Privateers are undefeated in five games against Texas Southern. The two teams played a four-game set that New Orleans swept in 1981. Both teams also met in the last NCAA regional appearance by the Privateers in 2008.
Texas Southern is coached by Michael Robertson, who took over the program after the '08 season. Robertson guided the Tigers to a SWAC West Division championship in 2010. Last season, Texas Southern was 22-29.
The Tigers dropped all three games in the LSU Tournament last weekend in Baton Rouge, falling to Toledo, Virginia Tech, and hosts, LSU while being held to just four runs scored in those three contests. Both the Tigers and Privateers have been shut out twice this season.
Leading the offense is Jerry Ford who is 11-for-28 at the plate through eight games. All of Ford's hits this season have been singles. Ford has also drawn five walks, and has stolen five bases in seven attempts to lead the Tigers.
First pitch for both games will be slated for 6:30 p.m.
Nick Halliday will take the ball for the Privateers on Tuesday night.
