NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Privateers baseball team (16-16) will start a two-week stretch of mostly road games on Wednesday when they face the Southern Jaguars (16-15) at Lee-Hines Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
The Privateers will begin a stretch that sees seven of their next eight games on the road. The only home contest in the mix is the second game of the Pelican Cup against Tulane on Tuesday, Apr. 16.
STARTERS
Cortlynn Ramirez (0-1, 2.40) will get the ball for the Privateers in his first collegiate start. Ramirez has not allowed an earned run in his last three outings, which spans 8.0 innings pitched. Southern's starter is yet to be announced.
ABOUT NEW ORLEANS
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Gaige Howard racked up six more hits in the Southeastern series. The first year Privateer is hitting .373, which ranks fifth in the Southland. Howard has 15 hits in the Privateers' last two weekend series.
-Seven of Antonio Gauthier's 13 hits this season have gone for extra bases. He hit a three-run homer in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, which was his third homer of the year. Gauthier has also driven in 13 runs.
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Reeves Martin locked down his eighth save of the season in the series finale against Southeastern on Saturday. Martin has 29 strikeouts to four walks in 17.2 innings worked. His saves total ranks eighth in the country heading into the week and his 17 appearances ranks tied for 26th nationally.
-New Orleans has won nine straight games against Southern entering Wednesday's contest. The Privateers' last loss to the Jaguars occurred on Apr. 23, 2012. In that span, New Orleans has outscored Southern 90-24.
ABOUT SOUTHERN
- The Jaguars played a non-conference weekend in Memphis and lost two of three. Southern won the first game 6-1. Memphis dominated the second game 10-1 and the rubber match went to 12 innings in a shootout. Memphis edged Southern 14-12 on a two-run walk-off home run.
- Southern continues to pace the SWAC in several offensive categories. The Jaguars lead the conference with a .305 team batting average. They also lead the conference in doubles (57), runs scored (239), stolen bases (86), and on-base percentage (.399). The Jaguars also lead the SWAC in fielding percentage (.962).
- Two Jaguars rank in the top 50 in the country in batting average: Hunter David checks in ninth place while Jaeveyan Williams sits in 45th. David is hitting .425 with 28 RBI and an on-base percentage of .555. Williams is hitting .404 in 104 at-bats and is perfect in stolen base attempts (19-for-19).
- Southern still has a firm hold on the West Division of the SWAC with a 10-2 record. Grambling is second with one more series played and a total record of 9-6. The Jaguars also have a half-game lead for the best overall record in the conference. East Division leader Alabama State is 10-3 in SWAC play.
- The Jaguars are well outperforming expectations placed upon them this season. Southern was picked to finish last in their division of the SWAC. Southern also did not have a player selected to the Preseason All-Conference teams.
FROM COACH DEAN
"I thought we picked more often and even when Southeastern stole bases we made some good throws. But the best way to take the running game out of the equation is to not let guys get on and it limits the options of what another team wants to do."
"We're still just trying to figure things out. Swift, Cortlynn, and Mitchell are all freshmen who are getting a lot of innings which will help us to become better in the future."
"We've been trying to get our hitters to be aggressive all year but on pitches that we want, not breaking balls or change-ups in the dirt. We just have to put ourselves in situations to succeed and take advantage when we get opportunities."
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