Privateers Baseball Takes Series Finale, Splits Doubleheader

GAME 1: BOX SCORE (XML) | BOX SCORE (PDF)
GAME 2: BOX SCORE (XML) | BOX SCORE (PDF)

NEW ORLEANS – In a day that featured a six-hour rain delay, the University of New Orleans baseball team (26-17, 10-11 Southland) closed the series on a high note by winning the series finale 7-3 and splitting a doubleheader with the Central Arkansas Bears (18-23, 9-12). The Bears took the first game 9-7 at Maestri Field at First NBC Ballpark.
 
GAME 1- UCA-9 UNO-7
 
The Bears copied what they did in the series opener as Tyler Gray picked up his second win in as many days. A game that was delayed by six hours due to heavy rain and thunderstorms resumed at 8:30 with UNO leading 6-5 in the sixth. Both teams combined for six home runs, but Central Arkansas pulled out the win in more unusual fashion.
 
Tied at 7-7 heading into the ninth, Daniel Martinez entered for the second consecutive day after pitching three innings on Friday. Martinez retired two straight after allowing a lead-off walk. Martinez then got a ground ball, but an error allowed Michael Haun to reach and the go-ahead run to score. The Bears added an insurance run when a wild pitch occurred on a strikeout.
 
"They played well and we made a few mistakes which they capitalized on," said Coach Blake Dean. "Those mistakes cost us the ball game. We would have liked to have won more than one game, but the guys bounced back off of a tough loss in the first game."
 
The Privateers were shut down after a lead-off single in the bottom of the ninth. Preston Marsh hit a grand slam before the rain delay to give UNO their first lead of the game. The Privateers took the lead again in the bottom of the sixth after Central Arkansas tied the score on a Tyler Langley solo home run.
 
Palmer went 4-for-5 and stole two bases in the first game. Samuel Capielano added two hits and Kyle Bracey homered in the second inning to put the Privateers on the board. Marsh's grand slam was the first of two homers he hit on the day as he featured again in the second game.
 
Tyler Langley, Matt Anderson, Brandon Montalvo, and Logan Preston all homered for the Bears in the first contest. Langley collected three hits and the Bears racked up 16 hits as a unit. Gray threw the final two innings and allowed one hit while striking out three.
 
GAME 2-UNO-7 UCA-3
 
The Privateers got out of the blocks quick, scoring six runs in the first two innings. Hunter Medine came up with a strong relief outing and Jordan Priddle closed matters down for his first save to give UNO their first ever victory over Central Arkansas in 11 tries.
 
"I thought Hunter and Jordan did a fabulous job for us," said Dean. "Jordan finished it up for us and we need guys to step up for us and both of them did."
 
A four-run first helped chase Bears starter, Riley Echols early. Palmer led the game off with a single and two batters later, Dakota Dean tripled to deep center. After Hezekiah Randolph was hit by a pitch, Marsh launched his second homer of the day, a three-run shot to left to give the Privateers a sizable early advantage.
 
"I messed with Preston that if he keeps playing like this he's going to get drafted," laughed Dean. "He did a great job swinging the bat for us today."
 
Two more runs came in the second after back-to-back walks by Echols. A bunt by Capielano off of reliever, Chris Durham moved both runners up. Dean singled past a diving Hunter Strong to bring both runners in to give UNO a 6-1 lead after two.
 
Medine came in with one out in the third after Bryan Warzek walked back-to-back hitters. Medine got a double play on a line out from Chris Townsend's bat. That sparked an outing which spanned four innings and encompassed just one earned run allowed (two total). Medine walked two and struck out two while throwing 60 pitches.
 
With one out in the seventh, Medine surrendered a pair of runs. Priddle entered the game with the tying run at the plate, but stayed to task by recording two strikeouts to get UNO out of the inning. In the last two frames, Priddle allowed one base runner via a one-out walk in the eighth.
 
The second game saw Dean go 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs. Palmer scored twice and walked twice. Marsh finished 2-for-4 in the series finale and the Privateers pitching staff combined to allow just three hits.
 
Next up for the Privateers will be a weekend series at Abilene Christian starting on Friday. First pitch is slated for 6 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.
 
For more information, follow the Privateers on Twitter @UNOPrivateers and @Privateers_BSB or like us on Facebook.