Privateers Set for Split Series Against Nicholls

 UNO Notes | Nicholls Notes

NEW ORLEANS, La. – The New Orleans Privateers baseball team (11-26, 2-16 Southland) picks up conference play again when they face the Nicholls State Colonels (22-20, 12-6) in a three-game series starting Friday at Ray E. Didier Field in Thibodaux.

The Privateers are coming off a 4-1 victory in their final midweek against Loyola. Three New Orleans pitchers combined to hold the Wolfpack to six hits in the game. Mitchell Cohen picked up his first win of the season while pitching a season-long four innings, and Raymond Winter pitched the final two innings to lock down his second save of the year.

New Orleans is looking to snap a six-game conference losing streak since winning the series finale against Incarnate Word on Apr. 6. The Privateers have scored just 42 runs in 18 conference games and are batting .213 versus Southland opponents. New Orleans has been held to two runs or fewer 12 times in conference play.

Mitchell Alexander continues to get into a rhythm at the plate, as he's currently on a six-game hitting streak. Alexander doubled in his first at-bat against Loyola to extend the streak. Since taking over as the starting centerfielder for the injured Chaz Boyer, Alexander has struck out just twice in 24 at-bats over the last seven games.

The Privateers have lost six straight to Nicholls entering play, but still own an 84-53 advantage in the all-time series. Nicholls coach Seth Thiobdeaux has beaten the Privateers all six times he's faced them since becoming the Colonels' head coach in 2011. Nicholls won both meetings last season while out-scoring New Orleans 30-9.

Nicholls is coming off a mercy rule victory in their 13-2 decision against Southern on Wednesday. It marked the third time this season the Colonels have won a contest over an opponent by 10 or more runs. The Colonels enter tied atop the Southland standings, and are in search of their first regular season Southland title.

The pitching staff is the Colonels' forte as the team boasts a 2.34 ERA, which is tops in the Southland. Friday night starter Taylor Byrd leads the staff with 67 strikeouts, second-most in the conference. Offensively, the Colonels are paced by Keith Cormier who is the only batter on the team with a batting average over .300.

First pitch for Friday night's game is scheduled for 6 p.m. The two teams will meet at Maestri Field on Saturday, and close the series back in Thibodaux on Sunday.

PROBABLE PITCHING MATCH-UPS
FRIDAY- UNO: Nick Halliday (2-5, 3.21) vs. NICHOLLS: Taylor Byrd (6-2, 1.27)
SATURDAY- UNO: TBA vs. NICHOLLS: Grant Borne (5-2, 3.02)
SUNDAY-UNO:  Alex Smith (1-6, 4.88) vs. NICHOLLS: Brandon Jackson (2-1, 1.57)