Privateers Open Southland Play at Sam Houston State

NEW ORLEANS (6-7) AT SAM HOUSTON STATE (5-8)
GAME 14-16 | HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS | DON SANDERS STADIUM
FRIDAY 6:30 PM | SATURDAY 3 PM | SUNDAY 1 PM
 
GAME NOTES | AUDIO | VIDEO | LIVE STATS | TWITTER
 
THE SERIES:
The New Orleans Privateers baseball team (6-7) opens up Southland play against the preseason conference favorite Sam Houston State Bearkats (5-8) on Friday at Don Sanders Stadium. The series opener is set for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch.
 
The Privateers dominated in their only midweek game, defeating Sacred Heart 13-1. It was the largest margin of victory since New Orleans defeated Texas Southern in an NCAA Regional on May 27, 2008. The Privateers smashed eight extra base hits in the victory (six doubles, one triple, and one home run).
 
Sam Houston State enters on a four-game slide. After getting swept last weekend at the hands of Louisiana-Monroe, the Bearkats fell in their only midweek contest against McNeese State. The Bearkats have been held to eight runs in their losing skid.
 
Matt Deggs is in his first season at the helm after taking over for David Pierce. The Bearkats are the defending regular season Southland champions. Spence Rahm is leading the way at the plate with two homers and 13 RBIs, which ranks third in the conference. The two teams have met four times including a three-game set, which opened Maestri Field last year. Sam Houston State is 3-1 in the all-time series.

WEATHER:

DAY	TEMPERATURE	CONDITIONS	CHANCE OF RAIN	WINDS
Friday	53/31	Clear	0%	NNE 5-10
Saturday	58/43	Cloudy	10%	Light
Sunday	53/43	Cloudy/Rain	90%	Light

PITCHING ROTATION:
FRIDAY: UNO-RHP Alex Smith (2-1, 2.42) vs SHSU- LHP Andrew Godail (0-2, 3.60)
SATURDAY: UNO- RHP Shawn Semple (1-1, 1.10) vs SHSU-LHP Logan Boyd (1-1, 3.60)
SUNDAY: UNO- RHP Daniel Martinez (0-1, 7.25) vs SHSU-RHP Sam Odom (0-2, 4.41)
 
ALL-TIME SERIES:
RECORD: Sam Houston State leads 3-1
LAST MEETING: SHSU W 7-2 (3/15/14)
 
NEXT UP:
The Privateers play their final road game of the month on Tuesday, Mar. 10 against Louisiana-Lafayette. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
NEWS AND NOTES:
BUOY BOYER:
Chaz Boyer drove in five runs and smashed his third career home run when he cleared the bases with an eighth inning grand slam on Tuesday. Boyer leads the team and is currently fourth in the Southland in RBIs (11). The grand slam was the first by a Privateer since Cameron Wheeless (Mar. 13, 2012).
 
SMITHSONIAN:
Alex Smith will get his first Friday starting call this weekend to open the series against Sam Houston State. Smith has gone at least five innings in each of his four starts, and is currently second in the Southland in innings pitched (22.1).
 
DOUBLE VISION:
The Privateers had six doubles in the victory over Sacred Heart. It was the most two-baggers in a game since Apr. 28, 2010 when New Orleans racked up six doubles in a game against McNeese State. Coming into Tuesday, the Privateers had just 11 extra base hits in the first 12 games.
 
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