Baseball Falls To Nicholls 3-0 On Senior Day

BOX SCORE (PDF)

NEW ORLEANS – Playing at Maestri Field at First NBC Ballpark for the final time this season, the University of New Orleans baseball team hosted Nicholls on Saturday evening, losing to the visitors 3-0.

Following the game, New Orleans (25-24-1, 13-13 Southland Conference) honored its senior class of second baseman Samuel Capielano, first baseman Dakota Dean, right-handed pitcher Riley Hodge, right-handed pitcher Ryan Leone, left-handed pitcher Hunter Medine, shortstop Aaron Palmer and designated hitter Hezekiah Randolph.

"They have been the foundation of what we are trying to do moving forward," head coach Blake Dean said of the seniors. "Randolph, Capielano and Medine have been through some rough years here, I'm glad they got to experience a winning season last year and hopefully a second trip to the conference tournament. They have done an amazing job and have laid down the groundwork for us to build on."

The Privateers held Nicholls (27-25, 13-13 Southland Conference) scoreless for six innings but a two-out rally for the Colonels in the seventh gave them the 2-0 lead. UNO tried to respond with a pair of hits in the bottom of the frame, but were unable to cut into the deficit while another run by Nicholls in the eighth gave them the three-run lead.

"We got outmatched today," Dean added. "[Nicholls'] pitcher did a good job of holding our offense down. We have to put some pressure on Nicholls tomorrow and get the 'W'. It could make or break our season."

For the Privateers, junior catcher John Cable paced the offense with three hits, with Randolph, junior right fielder Tristan Clarke and junior left fielder Jay Robinson all chipping in one.

On the mound, sophomore southpaw Bryan Warzek got the start and allowed two runs off six hits in 6.2 innings with four strikeouts and one walk. Medine and junior lefty Matthew Gillis both logged one inning, with junior right-handed pitcher Rafael Martinez closing out the seventh frame.

For Nicholls, Mike Hanchar tossed nine scoreless innings, walking just one Privateer while striking out six. Joey Morales led the attack with two hits and two RBI, while Kyle Knauth and Juan Givan both chipped in two hits.     

The Privateers are back in action tomorrow in Thibodaux, La. for the weekend rubber match against Nicholls, with first pitch scheduled for 1 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.