BOX SCORE (XML) | BOX SCORE (PDF)
NACOGDOCHES, Texas –
Riley Hodge threw seven innings,
Dakota Dean homered for the third straight game, and
Daniel Martinez recorded his seventh save of the year as the University of New Orleans baseball team (15-4, 4-1 Southland) held on for a 5-4 victory over the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks )9-11, 0-5) on Saturday at Jaycees Field.
After Martinez got the first batter out in the ninth with a 5-3 lead, Stephen F. Austin made one final push. A pinch hit single by Zach Valenzuela was followed by an RBI double from Slayton Vaughan to cut the lead to 5-4. The second out was recorded when Martinez won a race to the bag on a ground ball from Tyler Kendrick. The game was finished when Nick Ramos struck out swinging.
"We always seem to make it interesting," said Coach
Blake Dean. "I want a clean finish somewhere along the line, but we find a way to get it done. Daniel comes in, gives us two innings and did a great job. He's throwing the ball really well."
The game was one for the pitchers early. Stephen F. Austin struck first with a third inning run. After Matthew Dickey tripled with two outs, he was brought in on an RBI double by Kendrick. The score held there until UNO got on the board with three runs in the sixth.
The Privateers loaded the bases with one out on a walk, a base hit, and catcher's interference.
Ray Veit hit a chopper up the third base line that was botched by Lumberjacks third baseman, Eric DeJesus which accounted for the first UNO run.
Chaz Boyer then drew a bases loaded walk and
Jay Robinson grounded into an RBI fielder's choice to put the Privateers ahead 3-1.
"That's a prime example of being given extra opportunities that will hurt you in the game," said Dean. "That's what we preach about every day so I'm glad we capitalized. I wish we could have done a little more with it, but we'll take that."
The Lumberjacks pulled a run back on a solo homer by Garrett McMullen, but UNO had an answer waiting in the seventh. Dean hit a solo shot with one out, marking the third straight game he's homered. After
Hezekiah Randolph was hit by a pitch, he moved up to second and was driven in by a
Preston Marsh RBI single to extend the lead to 5-2.
Hodge was pulled after Ramos homered to start off the eighth. Martinez was brought on and got the first two batters before a triple by Kyle Thornell kept the inning alive. Martinez escaped though when he got Zach Michener to strike out.
"Any starting pitcher that gives us seven innings or anything more than five, we can't ask for anything more than that," said Dean. "Riley did a good job. He made one bad pitch after falling behind in the count, but overall he gave us a good chance to win."
UNO got a two-hit day from Marsh. Randolph scored two runs and
Kyle Bracey went 1-for-4 with a walk and a run. The Privateers had to change the lineup around after
Ryan Calloway was a late scratch due to injury. Hodge's seven innings marked his longest outing of the season surpassing the 6.2 innings he threw against Sam Houston State.
Eric Nouis gave up five runs (three earned) in 6.2 innings while throwing 131 pitches. Matthew Dickey went 2-for-3 with a triple and a run scored. The Lumberjacks out-hit the Privateers 10-7 on the day. The Lumberjacks did not draw a walk against either Hodge or Martinez.
The series concludes with a 1 p.m. first pitch on Sunday.
Season tickets for the 2016 campaign are available for as low as $125 and single-game tickets start at $5. For additional information, contact the UNO Athletics Ticket Office at (504) 280-GAME (4263) or click
HERE.
For more information, follow the Privateers on Twitter
@UNOPrivateers and
@Privateers_BSB or like us on
Facebook.
