Baseball Hits The Road For Tuesday Game At South Alabama

NEW ORLEANS – After opening the 2017 campaign with an eight-game homestand, the University of New Orleans baseball team hits the road for the first time this season on Tuesday, Feb. 28 when they take on South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama.

The Jaguars represent the first opponent on the Privateers schedule that advanced to the 2016 NCAA National Tournament, going 42-22 last season. South Alabama holds a 92-60 edge in the all-time series, dating back to UNO's inaugural season back in 1970, with the two sides winning on their home field for a series split in the 2016 installment.

"This will be a good road test for us," head coach Blake Dean said. "South Alabama is a good ball club, they are always one of the top of the Sun Belt and are one of the better teams we will see this season. In order for us to go in there and get a victory we are going to have to do a better job of doing the simple things. If we want to go there and get a victory we have to do a better job of executing in the batter's box and getting big hits when we need them."

The Privateers enter the midweek matchup after a 1-2 outing over the weekend versus Troy, with two of the three games in the weekend series going to extra innings.

UNO currently boasts one of the top offenses in the Southland Conference, leading the league in batting average (.328), slugging percentage (.544), on base percentage (.415), hits (97), RBI (64), doubles (25), home runs (11) and total bases (161) while ranking second in runs scored (69) and third in triples (3). Junior catcher John Cable paces the attack with a SLC-leading 13 hits while ranking second in the conference in doubles with five and seventh with a .448 batting average. Junior outfielder Tristan Clarke leads the team the Southland with three home runs and is second in slugging percentage with a .806 mark. Four other Privateers are hitting over .300.

On the mound, the Privateers have a team ERA of 3.77, with three pitchers posting ERAs under 2.10 after logging over nine innings so far. Sophomore southpaw Bryan Warzek has a 1-0 record in two starts while allowing two runs off 11 hits in 12 innings for a 1.50 ERA. Junior right handed pitcher Shawn Semple has a team-high 13 strikeouts in 13.0 innings of work, while junior right handed pitcher Rafael Martinez has a team-best two victories and is holding opponents to a .182 batting average.

South Alabama returns to their home field, where they are undefeated this season, after going 0-3 over the weekend against Baylor.

The Jaguars are hitting .349 through seven games with 88 hits, 16 doubles, five triples, 10 home runs and 73 RBI. Eddie Paparella paces the USA attack with 12 hits on a .500 hitting percentage with three extra-base hits and 11 RBI. Will Luft and Wells Davis also boast double-digit RBI totals with 10 and 11, while Adam Wolfe has three home runs in 11 at bats.

South Alabama's pitchers have a combined 3.90 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 60.0 innings. Randy Bell and Zach Melton have both made two starts on the mound for the Jaguars, with both recording double-digit strikeouts and holding their opponents to sub-.300 batting averages. Thomas Huston has thrown 5.2 innings over two appearances for USA, allowing no runs to score.               

UNO returns to Maestri Field at First NBC Ballpark on Friday, Mar. 3 when they begin a three-game series against Alcorn State with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m.. 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.