Privateers Baseball Set for Mid-Week Test vs. South Alabama

SOUTH ALABAMA AT NEW ORLEANS
TUESDAY, MARCH 22 | 6:30 PM
MAESTRI FIELD AT FIRST NBC BALLPARK | NEW ORLEANS,  LA.

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The University of New Orleans baseball team (15-5, 4-2 Southland) enters another tough mid-week test as they face off against the South Alabama Jaguars (15-5, 6-0 Sun Belt) on Tuesday at Maestri Field at First NBC Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
 
The Privateers won their second consecutive conference weekend when they took two of three on the road at Stephen F. Austin. In the series opener, UNO scored a season high 19 runs and got a grand slam each from Hezekiah Randolph and Dakota Dean. In the series clincher, Daniel Martinez picked up his seventh save of the season after recording the final two outs. Stephen F. Austin avoided the sweep with a 16-6 win on Sunday.
 
In the mid-week, UNO will face another stout program in South Alabama who won the Sun Belt regular season championship in 2015. The Jaguars were 19-9 in conference and last season, swept all three meetings against UNO in Mobile. The all-time series favors South Alabama at 91-59.
 
"South Alabama can pitch, they can hit, and they're well coached," said Coach Blake Dean. "Simply put, it's going to be a dog fight for us tomorrow."
 
Bryan Warzek will get the starting call for the Privateers. Warzek is 0-1 with a 6.50 ERA and has started games against Southern Miss, Tulane, LSU, and Louisiana-Lafayette. Last week against LSU, Warzek went 4.2 innings and gave up five runs (two earned).
 
"Bryan's had some tough outings against tough ball clubs," said Dean. "It's only going to make him better. That's what he's getting and that's going to make him a better competitor."
 
Martinez's seventh save puts him in a tie for third in the nation. Only Max Engelbrekt (Oregon State) and Chris Rivera (Long Beach State) have more saves with eight each. Martinez has 19 strikeouts in 16 innings of work and three of his saves have been two innings or longer. The program record for most saves in a season is 13, achieved by Ryan O'Shea in 2008.
 
The Jaguars are coached by Mark Calvi who is in his fifth season. In his second year with the club, Calvi guided South Alabama to their 25^th NCAA Regional appearance. Calvi has a career record of 140-112 to date.
 
Right-hander, Harrison Spruiell will start for South Alabama on Tuesday. On the year, Spruiell is 1-0 with a 4.63 ERA. Spruiell has recorded 10 strikeouts and six walks in 11.2 innings. Opposing batters are hitting .256 against him this season. In his last start, Spruiell gave up five earned runs on seven hits in four innings of work against Little Rock on March 13.
 
South Alabama enters the week ranked sixth in the Sun Belt in earned run average and batting average. Drew LaBounty leads the team in hitting with a .379 batting average. The Jaguars have played 14 of their first 20 games at home and are 3-3 away from Stanky Field.
 
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.
 
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