Privateers Baseball Takes Winning Streak to Weekend vs. Central Arkansas

CENTRAL ARKANSAS AT NEW ORLEANS
APRIL 29-MAY 1 | 6:30, 2:00, 1:00 PM
MAESTRI FIELD AT FIRST NBC BALLPARK | NEW ORLEANS, LA

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The University of New Orleans baseball team (25-15, 9-9 Southland) will take a seven-game winning streak into a weekend series against the Central Arkansas Bears (16-22, 7-11) starting Friday. First pitch for the series opener is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Maestri Field at First NBC Ballpark.
 
The Privateers had two games scheduled in mid-week. After thumping Southern 23-3 in seven innings on Tuesday, UNO was slated to face Southern Miss on Wednesday. However, rain during the afternoon hours washed out the contest. On Tuesday, UNO racked up 25 hits (11 extra base hits) and Hunter Medine (2-0) pitched five innings while picking up the win.
 
"We've got to keep it going," said Coach Blake Dean. "It's a big swing in the conference series with Central Arkansas right behind us. We have to create a little bit of a gap if we want to give ourselves a good chance to make the conference tournament."
 
UNO enters the week sixth in the Southland standings and two games ahead of ninth place. Central Arkansas comes in tied for the eighth and final spot with four conference weekends left for both teams. Of the four series left, UNO has three against teams below them in the standings.
 
The Privateers have a batting average of .315, after raising it nine points in the Tuesday victory. That ranks UNO first in the Southland and tied for 12^th in the nation. UNO also ranks inside the top ten nationally (tied for ninth) in triples. The Privateers have a total of 299 runs, which ranks 28^th in the nation and Aaron Palmer ranks first in the conference (tied for 24^th nationally) in runs with 45.
 
Tuesday was also a game that saw many big offensive performances. Preston Marsh collected his second four-hit game of the season and his first since the opening weekend of the year. Marsh moved his batting average over .300 and is one of seven starters hitting over that clip. Scott Crabtree got the start in right field on Tuesday and went 3-for-6 with two doubles.
 
"Hopefully those guys regain their confidence," said Dean. "Bumps and bruises is a part of the process. To be a quality team, you have to have guys step up and maximize their opportunity when they're presented with it. Hopefully the guys' confidence continues to grow and they stay aggressive."
 
Central Arkansas dropped two out of three games at home to Northwestern State last weekend. The Bears won the middle game of the series and lost the series finale 7-5. Central Arkansas did not play a mid-week game because of final exams.
 
The Bears enter the weekend with a team batting average of .251 and an ERA of 4.50. Tyler Langley has 14 stolen bases on the year, which places him in the top five in the Southland. Langley also has a .441 on base percentage. Logan Preston has drawn the second most walks in the conference to date with 31 free passes. On the bump, Connor Gilmore is in the top ten in the Southland in innings pitched with 66.0.
 
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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