Privateers Baseball Gives Up Four Early Runs in Loss to McNeese

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NEW ORLEANS – The University of New Orleans baseball team (18-12, 4-6 Southland) conceded four runs in the first three innings and lost 6-1 to the McNeese State Cowboys (16-11, 8-5) on Friday at Maestri Field at First NBC Ballpark.
 
The Cowboys drove the pitch count up early on UNO starter, Shawn Semple (4-2) and after a lead-off walk drawn by Ricky Ramirez, Shane Selman tripled into the gap to plate the Cowboys first run. Later in the frame, Joe Provenzano followed with an RBI single to push the McNeese lead to 2-0 after the opening inning.
 
"Shawn didn't have his best stuff tonight," said Coach Blake Dean. "He battled through some innings and kept us in striking distance, but didn't have his best."
 
UNO looked to form a response and got two one with one out. On a strikeout at the plate, the Privateers tried a double steal, but Chaz Boyer was called out at third, which ended the frame. From there, McNeese starter, Kaleb Fontenot was able to settle in and only allowed one hit over the next three innings.
 
The Cowboys pushed their lead further after Connor Crane and Provenzano started the third with back-to-back singles. A sacrifice bunt by Lewis Guilbeau moved both runners over and Matt Gallier drove in both runs with a single to center to make it 4-0.
 
UNO cracked the scoreboard in the fifth. Preston Marsh singled with one out for his second hit of the night. A wild pitch later in the inning moved him to third and Jay Robinson hit an RBI single with two away to cut the lead to 4-1. UNO got a one-out walk drawn by Dakota Dean and a passed ball moved him to second.
 
Hezekiah Randolph hit a hard ground ball up the first base line, but Crane made a diving stop and robbed Randolph of a hit and an RBI. Fontenot was able to go on to finish the inning on a strikeout. In total, Fontenot went seven innings and struck out 10 batters.
 
"Plain and simple, they beat us," said Dean. "They out-hit us, out-pitched us, and played better defense. We just got beat all around and the pitcher they threw was probably the best pitcher we've seen all year."
 
Jordan Priddle was first call out of the pen for UNO and went the last four innings. The Cowboys scored a run each in the eighth and ninth. Priddle gave up four hits and two runs (one earned) on four walks and threw 63 pitches.
 
"I was nitpicking, but I told Jordan that he can't leave a 1-2 breaking ball up and he did walk four, which is playing with fire," said Dean. "Overall though, he did a good job, kept us in the game and gave us a chance."
 
Marsh collected a two-hit night for UNO in four at-bats. Robinson drove in the only run and Dean reached base twice (one single, one walk). Boyer and Samuel Capielano each went 1-for-4 with a single. Semple struck out the side in each of the first two innings and had seven strikeouts on the night.
 
Provenzano led the Cowboys in hits with three in four at-bats. Crane was 2-for-5 with two runs and Gallier went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, a run, and two walks. Cameron Toole was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
 
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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