Privateers Baseball Edged Out by Nicholls in Series Opener

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NEW ORLEANS – The University of New Orleans baseball team (30-22, 14-14) committed five errors and saw a late rally fall short in a 5-4 loss to the Nicholls Colonels (24-30, 12-16) on Friday at Maestri Field at First NBC Ballpark.
 
The Privateers fell behind after Nicholls plated two with two outs in the seventh. Kyle Knauth and Gavin Wehby hit consecutive RBI singles to push the Colonels to a 4-3 lead. Dylan Manichia followed an inning later with his second homer of the night, a solo shot to left. The Privateers committed two of their five errors in the frame that put Nicholls ahead for good. 
 
UNO got a run back in the eighth when Jay Robinson hit an RBI single with two outs. Colonels closer, Robbie Petty got on the hill in the ninth and after allowing a lead-off single to Samuel Capielano, retired the next three batters in order. Second baseman, Ethan Valdez snared a ground ball and got the lead runner on a fielder's choice and Petty followed with two strikeouts.
 
"That's how the game was lost," said Coach Blake Dean. "We were lackadaisical, going through the motions, not having intensity and it carried over to the field just like against Lafayette. They didn't make the plays they needed to and we got beat."
 
The Privateers started with a lead in the first inning. UNO starter, Riley Hodge struck out the side in the top of the frame and UNO got two singles to start the bottom half. With two outs, Kyle Bracey was hit by a pitch to load the bases. That set up Preston Marsh who hit a line drive single to center scoring two runs.
 
Nicholls got a solo homer by Manichia, his first of the evening to lead off the second but Hodge kept the Colonels quiet immediately after. He retired 12 straight at one point, a string that was broken by a lead-off single in the sixth off the bat of Quade Smith. The Colonels tied up the game in that inning on the second error of the frame.
 
With the loss, the Privateers have to wait another day to try to clinch their spot in the conference tournament. Jarred Taylor took the loss, his first of the season. For the Colonels, Justin Sinibaldi battled through eight innings and threw 129 pitches in picking up the win. The save by Petty was his third of the season, which moves him into the team lead.
 
Kyle Bracey homered in the bottom of the sixth, his 10^th of the year. Chaz Boyer returned to the lineup and had two hits, one being a bunt single. Capielano went 4-for-5 while Robinson and Marsh each added two hits. Jordan Priddle gave up a run in 1.1 innings and Daniel Martinez pitched a scoreless ninth.

The series continues in Thibodaux on Friday at 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.
 
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