Privateers Baseball Battles Back, Falls Short in Extras to McNeese

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SUGAR LAND, Texas – The University of New Orleans baseball team (31-26) rallied back from a two-run deficit in the ninth to push the game to extra innings but were eventually defeated 8-4 in 13 innings by the McNeese State Cowboys (31-24) and were eliminated in the Southland Tournament on Friday.
 
The Privateers were trailing 4-2 after the top of the fourth and struggled to get going against Cowboys starter, Bryce Kingsley. However, UNO had some sound pitching performances of their own to keep the game close until the team busted through with two runs in the ninth. Ryan Calloway drove in a run with a one-out double and an RBI sac fly by Jay Robinson tied the game at 4-4.
 
"This game even though we lost, it summed up what we were made of and the fight, desire to win, and a never quit attitude," said Coach Blake Dean. "These guys were tired of losing and they demonstrated that today even though we fell a little short."
 
The game stayed tied as Shawn Semple, Jarred Taylor, and Daniel Martinez combined to throw 7.2 shutout innings against the Cowboys lineup. McNeese eventually broke through in the 13^th when a one-out RBI single broke the tie. Shane Selman delivered his fourth hit of the day, a two-run triple with two outs and Will Fox followed with an RBI single. UNO got runners on the corners but a ground out ended the game.
 
"They know how to win now," said Dean of his team. "They know the amount of work it takes and these seniors have laid the foundation for what we hope to do moving forward and that's win championships."
 
The game was the longest tournament contest in Southland history lasting 13 innings and encompassing nearly four and a half hours. Both teams had 13 hits on the day and both stranded double digits in runners. The Cowboys left 16 on base while the Privateers stranded 10. Collin Kober pitched the final five innings and came back from blowing the save in the ninth to get the victory.
 
Dakota Dean and Hezekiah Randolph were two of five Privateers with multi-hit days. Also added in were Calloway, Robinson, and Preston Marsh. Between Semple, Taylor, and Martinez there were nine strikeouts recorded.
 
The loss ended a season that saw UNO qualify for their first Southland Conference tournament since entering the league in 2014. They also notched their first postseason win during their journey on Thursday against Northwestern State. The 31 wins were the most by a Privateers squad since their last NCAA Regional appearance in 2008.
 
McNeese was led by Selman who landed a double short of the cycle, going 4-for-7 with three RBI and two runs. Lewis Guilbeau added three hits in five at-bats and Fox was 1-for-3 with two runs while also drawing three walks on the day. Provenzano went 2-for-6 with an RBI and a run. Kingsley went seven innings scattering eight hits and allowing two runs, both in the first.