Privateers Baseball Splits Doubleheader, Wins Series vs. Sam Houston State

GAME 1: BOX SCORE (XML) | BOX SCORE (PDF)
GAME 2: BOX SCORE (XML) | BOX SCORE (PDF)

NEW ORLEANS – The University of New Orleans baseball team (13-3, 2-1 Southland) clinched the series over the Sam Houston State Bearkats (6-11, 1-2) as they won the front end of the doubleheader 7-6 and dropped the finale 8-4 on Sunday at Maestri Field at First NBC Ballpark.
 
GAME 1: UNO-7 Sam Houston State-6
 
In the opening game of the day, Sam Houston State had one final rally fall short after entering the ninth trailing by three. After the Bearkats loaded the bases on two walks and a single, Privateers closer Daniel Martinez nailed down the game. Zach Smith drove in a run on a fielder's choice and another run came across with two outs on a wild pitch. However, Martinez was able to get a ground out off the bat of Matt Broadbent to seal the victory and the Privateers best 15-game start since 1981.
 
"Our number one goal is to not get swept and our second goal is to win a series," said Coach Blake Dean. "Obviously we would have enjoyed having the sweep, but those are hard to come by. I'm very pleased with what these guys did. I would have liked to wrap up with a sweep, but that's how baseball goes."
 
The Privateers battled back from a 4-0 deficit in the front end of the doubleheader. After conceding three runs in the first and a home run to lead off the third, Privateers starter, Riley Hodge settled in and retired 14 of the next 15 batters. Hodge threw 6.2 innings and kept the Privateers in the game until the offense struck in the sixth.
 
UNO started their rally in the fourth inning when Aaron Palmer led off with a single and Dakota Dean followed with an RBI double. The Privateers got runners on the corners with no outs, but Sam Houston State was able to limit the damage and get out of the frame.
 
The big frame came in the sixth as UNO sent all nine batters to the plate. Hezekiah Randolph doubled off the right field fence to score two. Samuel Capielano tied the game on an RBI single to center and Chaz Boyer came up two batters later and parked a home run. The Privateers scored six runs on three hits in the inning and were able to hold on.
 
GAME 2: Sam Houston State-8 UNO-4
 
Jordan Priddle threw eight innings and rebounded from surrendering three runs in the first three frames. However, Sam Houston State used a four-run ninth to pull away and avoid the series sweep. After it was ruled that Capielano missed a tag on Jaxxon Grisham who stole second, the Bearkats got a two-run homer from Robie Rojas and back-to-back RBI singles from Lance Miles and Zach Smith. UNO got a two-out, two-run double from Jay Robinson but that was all as Bearkats reliever, Jordan Cannon recorded a strikeout to end the game.
 
"Jordan did a good job," said Dean. "He settled in and got ahead in the count. He threw his change-up and curve ball for a strike and that's the key to his success. He can't just live off of his fastball so he's got to be able to mix speed, pitches, and location and that's what he did."
 
UNO jumped ahead after Ryan Calloway singled to lead off the first and a Dean RBI single to make it 1-0. The lead was short lived though as Barrett Koerselman homered in the second to put Sam Houston State up 2-1. The Bearkats added another run in the third when Smith drove in a run on an RBI single.

The Privateers were able to pull a run back in the fourth. Kyle Bracey tripled to center and was brought in on an RBI sac fly by Capielano. However, UNO could not get enough opportunities over the next few frames. UNO got a runner to third with two outs in the fifth, but did not cash in. The Privateers were retired in order over the next two innings by Bearkats starter, Riley Gossett who picked up the win.
 
"Those types of things happen," said Dean. "The umpire said he (Capielano) missed him, I thought he got him but those are things that if you're not prepared to play the whole game that will come back to bite you. We can't decide to wake up and start hitting the ball in the ninth inning. We have to be more consistent throughout the day."
 
Dean wound up with three hits and two RBI on the day. Bracey scored twice and collected two hits in the second game. Privateers starters threw a combined 23 innings over the three games. Priddle struck out five batters in the finale after coming in with four strikeouts on the season in three prior starts.
 
Next up for the Privateers will be a mid-week road game at LSU on March 16. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.