Shawn Semple Tames Jaguars In Baseball's Rain-Shortened Season Opener

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NEW ORLEANS – The University of New Orleans baseball team began the spring 2017 season on Friday afternoon again Southern, besting the visiting Jaguars 5-0 in a rain-shortened contest that got called off midway through the sixth inning.

Junior Shawn Semple started for New Orleans (1-0) in the opener, showing why he is the Friday starter with 10 strikeouts, one shy of matching his career-high, in 6.0 innings without allowing Southern (0-1) to score a run and only surrendered two hits.

"Semple played a great game today," head coach Blake Dean said. "He did a great job of throwing strikes and got us on and off the field quickly. At the plate it looked like we had some early jitters, they just have to settle in and hopefully will swing the bats better tomorrow."

On offense, junior Tristian Clarke went 2-3 at the plate with two RBI and a double in his first game at the Lakefront. Senior Aaron Palmer also went 2-3 with a RBI and a run scored. Senior Dakota Dean, Hezekiah Randolph, and junior Owen Magee all logged on hit in the win.

UNO took the lead in the opening frame off a single from Clarke, scoring Dean. The Privateers tacked on three runs in the third to extend the lead to 4-0, adding another safety run in the fourth. Clarke, Palmer and sophomore Orynn Veillon contributed RBI in the third and fourth inning.

As a team, UNO's offense went 7-21 at the plate, drawing three walks and hit two doubles.
Harold Myles started for Southern and allowed five runs, four earned, off seven hits in 5.0 innings for the loss. Javeayan Williams and Bobby Johnson recorded Southern's two hits.

With the victory, New Orleans improves to 25-23 in season openers and 20-13 in season openers played on their home field.

The Privateers are back in action on Saturday, Feb. 18 when they host Illinois-Chicago at 1 p.m. Following the weekend games, the Privateers return to action on Tuesday, Feb. 21 when they host nationally-ranked LSU in a televised game presented by the Allstate Sugar Bowl. First pitch for the game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. For ticket information for the upcoming campaign and future Privateer Athletics events, contact the UNO Athletics Ticket Office at (504) 280-GAME (4263) and season tickets can be purchased over the Internet by clicking HERE.