Baseball Outlasts Troy 3-2 In 13 Inning Game

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NEW ORLEANS – Playing in their first extra-inning game of the young 2017 season, the University of New Orleans baseball team got runners on first and second in the 13^th inning with singles from junior outfielder Jared McKay and junior catcher John Cable, with a costly fielding error by Troy allowing McKay to cross home plate and give the Privateers the 3-2 victory.

In a different game than yesterday's 25-hit battle, neither side recorded double-digit hits in the extra-inning affair, with Troy (3-3) outhitting New Orleans (6-1) 9-8. UNO's defense held the visitors scoreless for the final seven innings, with junior right handed pitcher Rafael Martinez tossing 4.1 innings of scoreless baseball with four strikeouts to get his second victory of the season.

"The wind neutralized both our offense today," head coach Blake Dean said. "So for a team like us who's used to being a power hitting team it ended up being a pitchers' duel, and our pitchers and defense stepped up big for us today. [Bryan] Warzek set the tone for us, he was throwing strikes and has looked like a stud in his first two outings. The rest of the bullpen did a great job as well of keeping Troy off the bases and getting us out of jams."

Neither side led by more than one run, with UNO scoring in the second inning off a RBI single from junior outfielder Owen Magee to bring home Cable. Troy knotted up the score in the fourth, but a single from senior infielder Dakota Dean brought senior infielder Aaron Palmer round the bases to put the home side ahead 2-1 in the fifth inning. The final Troy score came in the seventh, when a sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly in back-to-back at bats made it a 2-2 ballgame.

Magee was the lone Privateer to log multiple hits with two, while he and Dean recorded New Orleans two RBI.

Sophomore southpaw Bryan Warzek got the start for UNO, allowing two runs off six hits in 6.0 innings with four strikeouts. Junior left handed pitchers John Michael Stephens and Matthew Gillis threw a combined 2.2 innings, holding the Trojans scoreless.

For Troy, Evan Hebert got the start and allowed two runs off three hits with nine strikeouts in 6.0 innings. Marc Skinner got the loss for Troy, throwing 1.0 innings. The visitors had three players record two hits, highlighted by Drew Frederic going 2-4 with a walk.

The Privateers improve to 3-2 in extra-inning games under Dean, and are now 1-1 in games that extend in the 13^th frame.

"Tomorrow is going to be another dogfight," Dean concluded. "If the wind is like it was today then we will have to rely heavily on our pitchers and defense again while trying to figure out how to get runners on bases."

UNO looks for its first series victory against Troy since the 2008 season when the two sides play in the rubber game on Sunday, Feb. 26 with first pitch scheduled for noon. The Privateers hit the road for the first time this season on Tuesday, Feb. 28 when they travel to take on South Alabama at 6:30 pm. For tickets to future Privateers athletic events, contact the UNO Athletics Ticket Office at (504) 280-GAME (4263) and season tickets can be purchased over the Internet by clicking HERE.