Privateers Open 2015 Campaign at South Alabama

NEW ORLEANS (0-0) AT SOUTH ALABAMA (0-0)
GAME 1-3 | MOBILE, ALA. | STANKY FIELD
FRIDAY-6:30 PM | SATURDAY- 12 PM | SUNDAY 1 PM

UNO GAME NOTES | USA GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | VIDEO | AUDIO | TWITTER
 
 
THE GAME:
The New Orleans Privateers baseball team faces an old Sun Belt foe to open the season when they square off against the South Alabama Jaguars in a three-game set starting on Friday at Stanky Field. First pitch for the debut game of the 2015 season is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
 
The Privateers enter their second season in the Southland Conference off an 11-38 year in 2014. New Orleans went 2-26 in conference play, but were involved in a lot of close games. In all, 24 of the Privateers' 49 games were decided by one or two runs.
 
South Alabama finished 22-33 overall last season and went two and out in the Sun Belt Tournament. The Jaguars are coached by Mark Calvi who is in his fourth season and has a nearly dead even record (88-87). South Alabama returns all nine of their starters off a team that finished last in the Sun Belt in runs, homers, on base percentage, and slugging percentage.
 
WEATHER FORECAST:

DAY	TEMPERATURE (HIGH/LOW)	CONDITIONS	CHANCE OF RAIN	WINDS
Friday	53/36	Mostly Sunny	0%	N 5-10
Saturday	66/39	Sunny	0%	W 10-15
Sunday	53/34	Sunny	0%	NNE 15-20

 
PITCHING MATCHUPS: 
FRIDAY- RHP Nick Halliday (UNO) vs. LHP Austin Stephens (USA)
SATURDAY- RHP Shawn Semple (UNO) vs. RHP Ryne Long (USA)
SUNDAY- RHP Alex Smith (UNO) vs. LHP Joey Jones (USA)
 
ALL-TIME RECORD:
SERIES: South Alabama leads 88-59
LAST MEETING: UNO W 4-3 (2/22/14)
 
NEXT UP:
The Privateers will conclude a four-game road swing to start the season with a mid-week matchup at Southern Miss on Wednesday, Feb. 18. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
 
NEWS AND NOTES:
FIRST IN LINE:
Samuel Capielano is the first Privateer to be named Preseason First Team All-Conference since Lindsey Loyd earned that honor for Privateers volleyball in 2009. Capielano led all Southland freshmen in hits in 2014 while batting .341.
 
SENIORITY REIGNS:
The Privateers have a lot of experience returning on the mound with four of the top five pitchers in innings from 2014 returning. Two of the three weekend starters (Nick Halliday and Alex Smith) are entering their senior season.

BACK TO THE DUGOUT:
Privateer catchers combined to throw out 35 runners trying to steal last season, most in the Southland and seven ahead of second place (Houston Baptist). Jonathan Santana was tied for fourth individually in runners thrown out with 17.
 
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