NEW ORLEANS – Week two of Southland play brings the conference leader in batting average to the Lakefront as the New Orleans Privateers will tussle with the UIW Cardinals in a three-game series. First pitch for the series opener is set for 6:30 p.m. and all games will be carried on ESPN Plus.
New Orleans (14-10, 3-0) pushed their winning streak to five games after a run rule victory over Southern by the score of 12-2. It was the fourth run rule victory of the season for the Privateers who had 10 such wins in 2023.
Collin Loupe had two hits and four RBI in the victory.
Victor Castillo drew four walks in the Privateers' win over Southern. Castillo fell one shy of tying the program record for walks in a game which was last achieved by Pat Cummings in 1985. Five walks in a game was first accomplished by Billy Foght in 1980.
Three Privateers are hitting .400 or better with runners in scoring position:
Miguel Useche (.444),
Mitchell Sanford (.417) and Loupe (.400). All three have at least 20 at-bats with runners in scoring position this season.
Useche was ranked 39
th among catchers over the past week by D1Baseball.com. He won his first Southland Hitter of the Week award on Monday and is currently hitting .349 entering this weekend's series.
The Privateers and UIW have gone back and forth throughout the time they've played each other since New Orleans joined the league. The all-time series is 11-11. The teams have split 16 meetings in San Antonio and six games in New Orleans.
There have been seven series contested between the Privateers and Cardinals. New Orleans has won four of them. UIW has the lone series sweep between the two sides, which was accomplished in 2019.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
UIW (14-9, 1-2) leads all Southland teams in batting average at .317. They are also second in the conference in doubles (55) and home runs (30). Cameron Caley and JD Gregson are both tied for second in the league in home runs with six each.
The Cardinals lost their opening series against A&M-Corpus Christi. After the Cardinals run ruled the Islanders 12-2 on Friday, A&M-Corpus Christi scored 25 runs over the next two days as they beat the Cardinals twice to win the series in San Antonio.
WE ARE YOUR KREWE
For 54 seasons, Privateer student-athletes have had the unique experience of wearing New Orleans across their chests. Like the city itself, our sports teams have been fueled by resiliency, grit, and the unquenchable desire to win. Our city also houses the nation's biggest celebration each year. And much like a Mardi Gras parade krewe, we are tethered to our community through pride, tradition, a culture of acceptance, and finally our commitment to show that New Orleans is a world-class city to live, learn, play and work. We invite you to become more involved with the only University that truly represents New Orleans all day, every day. Join #NOLAsTeam, We Are Your Krewe!
Visit UNOPrivateers.com/signup to stay connected and follow us @UNOPrivateers on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow
@PrivateersBSB on Twitter/X,
@PrivateersBSB on Instagram, like
Privateers Baseball on Facebook and subscribe to the
UNOPrivateers YouTube
