NEW ORLEANS – Beau Bratton extended his reached base safely streak to 25 games with a 3-for-4 performance in Thursday's series opener versus Northwestern State University (32-21, 17-11 Southland) but the University of New Orleans (25-29, 13-15 Southland) fell to the Demons 6-3 at Maestri Field.
Bratton collected a double and RBI,
Collin Morrill added two hits from the leadoff spot and
Jay Robinson singled twice.
Right-hander
Rafael Martinez was excellent all evening, needing just 41 pitches to force nine outs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Fresh off a season-high in hits, the Privateers continued its torrid hitting in the first with back-to-back hits by Morrill and
Owen Magee. A hit by pitch to
Pearce Howard loaded the bases and
Collin Morrill came around to score on
Orynn Magee's groundout. Bratton followed extending his hit streak to 10 on a double to make it 2-0 UNO.
Northwestern State tied the game in the third and took a 3-2 lead on a sacrifice fly in the fourth. The Demons tacked on a run in the fifth and two in the sixth for a 6-2 edge.
Howard led off the sixth with a single and back-to-back base knocks by Bratton and Robinson loaded the bases with one out.
Scott Crabtree drew a walk with the bases juiced to chase Ridge Heisler out of the ballgame.
Martinez was lights out in 3.0 innings, allowing just a hit by pitch and striking out six. The senior right-hander needed just 41 pitches for the nine outs.
WIN-LOSS
Ridge Heisler (6-2) earned the victory despite allowing eight hits and three runs in 5.1 innings.
Brayson Smith (2-4) was charged with the loss after giving up six runs in 6.0 innings. The right-hander struck out five. Danny Hlad earned his second save of the season in 3.2 innings of work.
NEXT UP
New Orleans and Northwestern State resume the series tomorrow at 6:30 p.m.
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