GAME NOTES
NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Privateers baseball team will participate in the Andre Dawson Classic in their home opening weekend at Maestri Field. New Orleans will face Jackson State on Friday at 6 p.m. 2 p.m. games follow against Florida A&M and Alabama State on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
All games will be broadcast on ESPN+ and Friday's game will be carried on NASH Icon 106.1 FM.
PROBABLE STARTERS – NEW ORLEANS
Friday- LHP
Tyler LeBlanc
Saturday- LHP
Brandon Mitchell
Sunday- RHP
Collin Horton
The Privateers (1-3) are coming off a difficult opening four games. New Orleans faced a pair of 2022 postseason participants in Kennesaw State and most recently, #18-ranked Southern Miss on Mardi Gras Night.
New Orleans is looking to turn their fortune around at home. Under Coach
Blake Dean, the Privateers have won just over 60 percent of their games at Maestri Field since 2016.
The Privateers have also had great success in the Andre Dawson Classic. Formerly named the MLB Urban Youth Invitational, it was changed to its current name in 2018. New Orleans has posted a record of 16-5 in 21 Invitational contests.
Miguel Useche hit a double on Tuesday night, his first of the season. Useche had 16 doubles in his first season on the Lakefront. The Privateers' catcher is 5-for-13 (.385) to begin the season.
The Privateers have controlled the all-time series against Jackson State. In 81 career meetings, the Privateers have 66 wins against the Tigers. However, the Tigers are on a recent run having won three of the last four games including the most recent meeting in April 2019.
New Orleans is 2-1 all-time against Alabama State. The Privateers have never played Florida A&M.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS
Jackson State's pitching staff has an opponent batting average of just .219. Tiger pitchers have also registered 49 strikeouts in 32 innings. Jackson State (2-2) is led offensively by Daniel Bannon who has seven RBI in four games.
Florida A&M (0-5) lost a narrow decision against Mercer on Wednesday. The Rattlers will be traveling for the first time this season after opening up the year with a three-game set against Eastern Illinois.
Alabama State (3-2) took three of four against IPFW in the opening weekend. The Hornets then lost to Troy in a midweek contest. Alabama State has 20 extra base hits through five games and is hitting .333 as a team.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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