NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Privateers return home to Maestri Field where they will look to force a winner-take-all game three in the 2024 Pelican Cup against the Tulane Green Wave. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The game will be carried on ESPN Plus.
NOTE FOR FANS ATTENDING
Both entrances (Press Drive and Franklin Avenue) will be open for access to parking, which costs five dollars.
STARTERS
UNO-LHP
Tyler LeBlanc vs. TULANE-RHP Will Clements
The Privateers suffered their first series loss in conference play at HCU. The Huskies took the last two games after New Orleans won the series opener 15-4 in seven innings. The Privateers were held to five runs over the next two games.
Diego Villescas has been giving steady production for the Privateers' lineup from the nine hole. Villescas went 7-for-13 last week and has seven multi-hit games in his last 14 appearances. Villescas had a triple, a home run and three RBI against South Alabama.
New Orleans has defended their home field well. This season, the Privateers are 13-6 in home games. They are hitting .298 at home. Five Privateer starters have batting averages north of .350 at Maestri Field (
Mitchell Sanford,
Miguel Useche,
Victor Castillo,
Bryce Calloway and
Alexander Saunier).
Since the Pelican Cup was brought back in 2018, the Privateers had not lost the first game of the series until this season when Tulane defeated New Orleans 6-3 in late February at Turchin Stadium. Tulane rallied from a 1-0 deficit to claim the Cup in 2022. The last time the Privateers rallied from a 1-0 deficit to take a season series against Tulane was in 2007.
Miguel Useche moved into a tie for tenth plate on the program's career doubles list. Useche stands at 43 doubles in his Privateer career. Next on the list is Chris Avans who is in ninth place, one ahead of Useche with 44 doubles. Useche is fifth in the conference in doubles entering the week with 11 and second on the team behind
Mitchell Sanford (12).
Jack Williams has 5.2 scoreless innings over his last two appearances, both in midweek games. The senior pitcher has picked up wins against Southern and South Alabama. Williams has just one walk issued this season and has only 11 walks in 67.2 career innings as a Privateer.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
Tulane lost the series at UAB and is now 3-6 in American Athletic Conference play. The Green Wave lost the series finale 7-6 as a late rally attempt fell short. Tulane went to the ninth down by three and got two runs back but stranded the tying run at second.
Gavin Schulz leads a balanced offense that has four regular starters hitting over .300. Schulz leads the team in batting average (.328), doubles (10) and RBI (26). Clements last pitched against UTSA on Mar. 30 and allowed two runs on three hits with two walks and a strikeout in 2.1 innings.
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
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