Palmer Hits Two Triples, Drive in Four as Privateers Baseball Tops Pittsburgh

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NEW ORLEANS – Aaron Palmer drove in four runs and hit two triples as the University of New Orleans baseball team (7-2) posted a 12-5 victory in the series opener over the Pittsburgh Panthers (6-2) on Friday at Maestri Field at First NBC Ballpark.
 
Palmer became the first Privateer since 2009 to hit two triples in a game and went 4-for-5 with four RBI and three runs. Ryan Calloway added two hits, two RBI, and two runs. Kyle Bracey went 2-for-4 and Hezekiah Randolph had two hits, an RBI, and a run.
 
The first three innings represented a see-saw battle that saw seven runs scored. UNO collected four hits in each of the first two innings, but the Panthers had responses in hand. After the Privateers scored a first inning run, Panthers third baseman, Ron Sherman parked a solo homer in the second. The Privateers' two-run second was met with two runs scored by Pittsburgh on a strikeout wild pitch.
 
Privateers starter, Shawn Semple (3-0) settled down though and kept the Panthers scoreless over the next three innings while the Privateers began to pull away. After taking the lead in the bottom of the third, UNO added three more runs to the advantage in the fourth. Palmer scored after leading off the frame with a triple. Dakota Dean later scored on a passed ball, and Randolph came home after he stole third and scored on one of five Pittsburgh errors.
 
"Our hitters really did a good job of keeping us in this ball game," said Coach Blake Dean. "Aaron's typical position is lead-off or two hole, but he's more comfortable in the two hole. I don't think it really matters where we put our guys. They've got to be able to execute and get the job done."
 
The Privateers put up 15 hits on the night and forced the Panthers into the pen early after Sam Mersing (2-1) was only able to go 3.0 innings. Pittsburgh used seven different pitchers on the night and issued seven walks.
 
Semple threw 6.0 innings and struck out the side in the sixth to run his strikeout total to eight. Semple gave up five hits and three runs while throwing 64 of his 105 pitches for strikes. Jarred Taylor pitched two innings and Keaton Brewer hurled a scoreless ninth. The Privateers also turned three double plays in the field.
 
"Shawn wasn't executing after we went out there and got runs on the board," said Dean. "We gave up four runs after we came in and scored and we can't do that, but he threw well overall and he gave us six innings and that's all we could ask for."
 
Pittsburgh was led by Alex Kowalczyk who went 2-for-3 with a homer. Jacob Wright drew three walks and scored twice while adding a stolen base. Charles LeBlanc went 1-for-3 and knocked in his team-leading 13^th RBI of the season.
 
The series continues on Saturday with a first pitch at 1 p.m.

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 Atheltics Ticket Office at (504) 280-GAME (4263) or log on to the internet at http://www.unoprivateers.com.
 
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