Baseball Takes On Tulane In Final Midweek Game Of Season On Tuesday

NEW ORLEANS – With the 2017 season winding down, the University of New Orleans baseball team plays its final game in New Orleans, as the Privateers take on Tulane at Turchin Stadium on Tuesday, May 16, at 6:30 p.m.   

This will be the second meeting between the two sides this season, with the Privateers prevailing back on April 4, 9-5 behind a three-hit outing by junior catcher John Cable and a four-RBI game for junior Chase Crump.

"We beat [Tulane] last time, so they are going to have some energy," head coach Blake Dean said. "They have been playing better lately, their hitters are finding their swings and sending the ball out of the park so I expect them to put some runs up at their ballpark. We are going to have to go there and play our game and continue to hit the ball like we have the past couple weeks. We have a big weekend series on deck so we are going to throw a lot of pitchers tomorrow. We can't afford to let [Christopher] DeMayo have an extended outing against Tulane, we are going to need him against Northwestern State."

New Orleans (25-25-1) enters the contest following a 1-2 weekend, claiming its first win against Nicholls since 2010 on Friday.

Offensively, New Orleans is hitting .293 (524-1786) with a .437 slugging percentage off the strength of 97 doubles, 14 triples and 44 home runs while posting 287 RBI. Cable leads four Privateers who are hitting over .300 with a .369 average, followed by junior infielder Owen Magee, senior infielder Samuel Capielano and sophomore outfielder Orynn Veillon with marks of .319, .319 and .303 respectively. Magee leads the team with 15 doubles with Capielano and Veillon both boasting three triples while Veillon, junior outfielder Tristan Clarke and senior outfielder Hezekiah Randolph all  have nine home runs while Magee also leads the team with 43 RBI.

On the mound, UNO sports a 4.45 ERA while tallying 397 strikeouts with 189 walks in 452.2 innings of work to date. Junior right-handed pitcher Shawn Semple leads the team with eight victories, with sophomore southpaw Bryan Warzek posting a team-low 2.18 ERA in a team-high 86.2 innings and holds opponents to a .229 batting average while Semple boasts a team-best 97 Freshman right handed pitcher Reeves Martin leads the team with three saves and 27 mound appearances this season.

Tulane (24-28) also comes into the midweek tilt after a 1-2 weekend, but ended the weekend with an 11-4 victory over Houston.

The Green Wave are hitting .261 (453-1734) as a team with a .420 slugging percentage coming from 64 doubles, seven triples and 56 home runs while tallying 259 RBI. Hunter Williams leads Tulane with a .352 batting average and 17 doubles, while Jake Willsey chips in a team-best two triples and Jarret DeHart boasts 11 home runs plus 44 RBI.

On the mound, Tulane has a team ERA of 5.63 with 296 strikeouts and 277 walks in 459.0 innings of work. Corey Merrill leads the Green Wave with six wins and 65 strikeouts, tying J.P France for the most punch outs with France adding a team-low 3.68 ERA and .266 opposing batting average in a team-high 88.0 innings pitched.

The Privateers wrap-up the regular season with a three-game Southland Conference series against Northwestern State, with the first game scheduled for Thursday, May 18 with a 6:30 p.m. start time. 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.