HOUSTON – Every starter in the lineup had a hit and the New Orleans Privateers had 10 extra base hits as they defeated the HCU Huskies 15-4 in a run rule win on Friday afternoon at Husky Field. It was the seventh run rule victory for New Orleans this season.
The Privateers scored in six of the seven innings on the day and the power surge began early.
Mitchell Sanford delivered a two-run home run, his seventh of the year off starter, Baylor Baumann which gave the Privateers an early advantage.
HCU grabbed a run back in the bottom of the first inning but that was as close as they got for the remainder of the game. New Orleans kept scoring with single runs in the second and third before a two-run fourth inning.
In the fourth,
Miguel Useche lined a double to left. It was his 43
rd career double, which moved him into a tie for tenth place on the all-time doubles list with Ted Wood. That put runners on second and third. The Privateers cashed both runs in on a sac fly and an RBI single.
HCU closed the gap again with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Trevor Roper drove in a run on a single. The Privateers turned a 3-6 double play but not before a second run crossed the plate, which narrowed the lead to 6-4.
New Orleans took over from that point though with three runs in the fifth. Included in that stretch was an
Issac Williams home run, one of four home runs on the day.
The biggest inning of them all came in the seventh. New Orleans erupted for six runs on five hits. There were three triples in the inning and two home runs including an inside-the-park homer by
Alexander Saunier. It was the first homer that didn't leave a yard from a Privateer since Darren Willis did it in 2021.
Maika Niu had the other homer in the inning while
Diego Villescas,
Issac Williams and
Bryce Calloway all had triples. The Privateers had 39 total bases as a team in seven innings.
INSIDE THE BOX
Colton Mercer picked up his fourth win of the season as he threw six innings. Three of the four runs charged to Mercer were unearned. Saunier was 3-for-4 with four RBI. Useche had three hits with an RBI and a run. Williams had three RBI and three runs. Villescas went 2-for-3 with three runs.
Victor Castillo went 1-for-3 with two runs and an RBI.
Trey Usey threw a scoreless seventh to finish the game early.
HCU had eight hits as a team. Roper and Trent Baker each had two hits. Luke Bard went 1-for-3 with a double. The Huskies pitching staff had six strikeouts.
NEXT UP
The series continues with a 1 p.m. first pitch on Saturday.
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.
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