Privateers Baseball Faces Final Mid-Week Test vs. Cajuns

LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE AT NEW ORLEANS
TUESDAY, MAY 17 | 6:30 PM
MAESTRI FIELD AT FIRST NBC BALLPARK | NEW ORLEANS, LA

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The University of New Orleans baseball team (30-20, 14-13 Southland) will host their final mid-week test of the regular season on Tuesday against the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns (33-19, 18-9 Sun Belt). First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. The Allstate Sugar Bowl will be the game's official sponsor.
 
The Privateers posted 25 runs over the first two days against the Southland leaders, Southeastern while taking two of three in the series against the Lions. Hezekiah Randolph was announced as Southland Hitter of the Week on Monday after driving in six runs. Randolph has the team lead in RBIs with 43 and is in the top five in the Southland in doubles with 15.
 
UNO's pitching staff held the Lions to just eight hits over the last two days and no home runs. Bryan Warzek pitched into the sixth and tied a season high for strikeouts. Shawn Semple made his return after missing a week due to injury.
 
"The guys threw well this weekend and did a great job for us," said Coach Blake Dean. The pitchers stepped up and when you limit opportunities more times than not you're going to come out with a victory. Those guys did a good job of allowing our hitters a chance to get going."
 
Daniel Martinez picked up his fourth victory of the season in the series opener. After the tying run scored in the seventh, Martinez held the Lions lineup scoreless over the final three innings to preserve the win. Jordan Priddle threw 4.2 shutout innings on Saturday, limiting Southeastern to just one hit.
 
"Hopefully they've gotten some confidence," said Dean of the pitching staff. "They threw the ball well and saw that when you challenge people and throw strikes you can have success. Hopefully they can carry that the rest of the way and continue to peak at the right time."
 
Starting for UNO on Tuesday will be Keaton Brewer (3-1, 6.53). It will be Brewer's first start of the season after making 23 appearances out of the pen. The Cajuns will counter with Wyatt Marks who is 3-6 with a 4.94 ERA in 12 starts this year.
 
Before the game, the Privateers will be presented with the Pontchartrain Bowl trophy after taking the series against Southeastern. The creation of the trophy was to act as a welcoming gesture for UNO's entry into the Southland Conference.
 
The Cajuns took two of three over the weekend from Sun Belt leader, South Alabama which included a 6-3 win in the series finale. Heading into the last week, Louisiana-Lafayette is two games up on Little Rock for the two-seed in the Sun Belt Tournament. The Cajuns will close with in-state foe, Louisiana-Monroe.
 
Louisiana-Lafayette leads the Sun Belt in ERA (3.24) heading into the week and has also been a sound defensive team, ranking third in the conference with a .974 fielding percentage. Cajuns closer, Dylan Moore has 11 saves and has allowed just 16 hits over 40.2 innings this season while boasting a .122 opponent batting average.
 
The game is a make-up after it was washed out on Apr. 13. Tickets purchased for the game at that time are valid for entry for Tuesday's contest.
 
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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