HATTIESBURG, MISS. – The University of New Orleans Privateers baseball squad (5-1) looks to push its win streak to six games Tuesday against No. 23 the University of South Mississippi Golden Eagles at Pete Taylor Park in Hattiesburg. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Game Notes:
http://unoprivateers.com/sports/2018/2/15/baseball-game-notes.aspx?path=baseball
Live Stream:
http://conferenceusa.com/watch/default.aspx?Live=7259&path=southern_miss
Live Audio:
https://unoprivateers.com/watch/?Live=1549&type=Live
Live Stats:
https://southernmiss.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary
SOCIAL MEDIA
Twitter:
@Privateers_BSB
Instagram:
@Privateers_BSB
Facebook:
/PrivateersBSB
LAST SEASON AGIANST SOUTHERN MISS
The two teams split a two-game series last season, which each winning in the opponent's ballpark. The Golden Eagles took the first game 9-7 at Maestri Field in late February, while the Privateers took the rematch in May by a score of 14-9.
In the victory senior first basemen
Scott Crabtree led the way for the Privateers with a double, a pair singles and two RBI. Fellow returnee
Beau Bratton had a pair of hits and drove in a run while
Pearce Howard,
Collin Morrill, and
Darren Willis had key base hits to contribute in the victory.
Christopher DeMayo was credited with the win after going three innings allowing two hits, a run and striking out two.
SCOUTING NEW ORLEANS
After a slow start to the season, Bratton has gotten things going at the plate. Going 5-for-9 last weekend with a double, a triple, two RBI, and two runs scored, and is now hitting .300 on the season after starting the season just 1-for-11 (.091) at the plate.
Collin Morrill finished the Allstate Sugar Bowl Baseball Classic 5-for-12 with a home run, three runs batted in, and three runs scored. Morrill is currently on a 11-game hitting streak as well as a 22-game reached base safely streak dating back to last season.
Gaige Howard made the most of his two starts last weekend going 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles, three runs scored, and four walks. Howard leads the team in on-base percentage at .778 in limited action this campaign.
Mathew Oset has been outstanding out the bullpen for the Privateers. In his 9.2 innings of work he has only allowed four hits and one run while striking out 12 and is holding opponents to .121 hitting.
SCOUTING SOUTHERN MISS
The Golden Eagles lost a highly contested series against in-state foe and nationally ranked Mississippi State. The series opened with a 1-0 victory for USM. The Bulldogs dominated the middle game 8-1. On Sunday, the rubber match was tied 3-3 in the ninth but the Bulldogs walked off a winner on an RBI double by Tanner Allen.
- Gabe Montenegro was a Freshman All-American for the Golden Eagles last year. The now sophomore hit .295 with 11 doubles and 38 RBI in his first collegiate season. Montenegro also made the Conference-USA All Tournament Team. The Guatemala native helped his country to a bronze medal in the 2017 Central America Games.
- Scott Berry has kept Southern Miss at a high level of success in his nine years at the helm. In 2017, Berry led the Golden Eagles to their first ever 50-win season. Berry has guided USM to five NCAA tournament appearances, four regular season C-USA titles, and three C-USA tournament championships.
- The Golden Eagles begin an eight-game homestand on Tuesday. After their midweek bout against the Privateers, Southern Miss will host Gonzaga and Holy Cross over the next two weekends. They will also have a home game against Southern.
- Southern Miss was selected as the preseason conference favorite. They received eight first place votes. Louisiana Tech had two first-place votes while Florida Atlantic and Rice each had one. Matt Wallner was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year. Three other Golden Eagles joined him on the list: Hunter Slater, Walker Powell, and Stevie Powers.
- Nick Sandlin became the highest drafted player in Golden Eagle history since Tommy Davis in 1994. Sandlin was selected in the second round by Cleveland. In his first professional season, Sandlin moved from rookie ball to Double-A Akron by season's end. He posted a 3.00 ERA in 25 games and had 36 strikeouts to three walks in 24.0 innings pitched.
- Broadcaster, John Cox is in his 41st season of broadcasting Southern Miss baseball. His tenure is tied for the second longest in the country. Only Dave Nitz of Louisiana Tech has been broadcasting for longer (45th season with Louisiana Tech).
- Jarod Wright gets the starting call for Southern Miss on Tuesday. The senior has made two appearances out of the pen spanning 1.2 innings. Against Mississippi State, Wright had a scoreless appearance with a strikeout. Last season, Wright went 3-1 with a 5.40 ERA in 30.0 innings pitched.
- The Golden Eagles played New Orleans in the inaugural season for the Privateers (1970). Southern Miss won the first ever meeting between the two schools 10-0 on Apr. 4.
PITCHING MATCH-UP
RHP
Brayson Smith (0-0, 2.25 ERA) vs RHP Jarod Wright (0-0, 16.20 ERA)
Smith gets the call after starting Sunday afternoon against Michigan State. Against the Spartans he scattered five hits over four innings, allowing just one run and striking two Spartan batters.
Wright has appeared in two games this season, last pitching against the nationally ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs three days ago. In 1.1 innings this season he has allowed five runs (three earned) and opponents are hitting .400 against him.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow
@Privateers_BSB on Twitter,
@Privateers_BSB on Instagram, like
/PrivateersBSB on Facebook and subscribe to the
PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.
