Shawn Semple Pitches Into Eighth in Loss to Northwestern State

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NEW ORLEANS - The University of New Orleans baseball team (18-15, 4-9 Southland) was locked in a pitcher's duel, but surrendered a five-run eighth inning in a 6-1 loss to the Northwestern State Demons (18-15, 9-7) on Friday at Maestri Field at First NBC Ballpark.
 
With the game tied at 1-1, Privateers starter, Shawn Semple was put in a tough spot. Back-to-back singles started off the inning, and after a strikeout accounted for the first out, David Fry drew a walk to load the bases. Daniel Martinez was called on out of the pen to try to keep the game level.
 
A ground ball off the bat of Bret Underwood was hit toward third. Aaron Palmer fielded it, and tried to go to second but everybody was safe and the Demons went ahead 2-1. Cade Jones followed with an RBI single and another run came in on a wild pitch. The scoring outburst closed with a two-run single by Matt Valdez. The Demons sent all nine to the plate in the inning.
 
"We had a good first inning, but we didn't hit when it mattered," said Coach Blake Dean. "We out-hit them and had 12 hits, but they were all singles. IF we can't execute when we need to, we're not going to be successful.
 
UNO looked to respond in the eighth and got back-to-back singles by Hezekiah Randolph and Kyle Bracey to start the frame. Demons starter, Adam Oller bounced back to retire the next three in order. With a five-run lead, Oller came back out for the ninth and turned in a routine inning for his third complete game of the year.
 
The Privateers struck first back in the first inning. After a 1-2-3 frame turned in by Semple on just six pitches, UNO forced 22 pitches from Oller. Aaron Palmer led off the frame with a single and stole second. After a ground out moved him to third, Kyle Bracey drove him in with a two-out single to right to put UNO up 1-0.
 
The Demons were held off the scoreboard until the fifth. A one-out walk by Jones was followed by a single from Matthew Alford. Valdez then lined a double to deep left to bring a run in and tie up the game. Semple got the next two batters on a ground out to third and a strikeout to limit the damage. Semple went 7.1 innings and struck out seven.
 
"I thought this was probably Shawn's best outing of the year," said Dean. "To me it looked like he had his best stuff. He was controlling his fastball and getting ahead. We just couldn't score runs. If we would have scored in the seventh, maybe he could have gone for a complete game."
 
Bracey and Ryan Calloway each had three hits on the night. Palmer and Randolph added two hits apiece. UNO scattered 12 hits, but stranded 10 runners on the night. Martinez allowed two runs in 0.2 innings and Hunter Medine threw a scoreless ninth.
 
The Demons were led offensively by Valdez (three RBIs) and Nick Heath (three hits and a stolen base). Jones drew two walks and scored twice. Oller struck out five batters and threw 77 of his 114 pitches for strikes.
 
The series continues on Saturday at 2 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 Athletics Ticket Office at (504) 280-GAME (4263) or click HERE.
 
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