Privateers Travel to Northwestern State for Penultimate Weekend of Regular Season

NOTES

NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Privateers will take to an opposite corner of the state when they head to Natchitoches to face the Northwestern State Demons in a three-game series starting Friday at Brown-Stroud Field.
 
STARTERS
FRIDAY: UNO-LHP Colton Mercer vs. NSU-RHP Chase Prestwich
SATURDAY: UNO-RHP Grant Edwards vs. NSU-TBA
SUNDAY: UNO-RHP Cortez Dennis vs. NSU-RHP Dawson Flowers
 
The Privateers scored a walk-off win by a 6-5 score in 10 innings over Tulane. It was the third extra inning game for New Orleans this season. Bryce Calloway homered and got the win on the mound while Alexander Saunier delivered the game-winning hit in the tenth. Three different players played multiple positions in the win against Tulane on Tuesday: Miguel Useche (LF/1B), Collin Loupe (2B/SS) and Calloway (1B/P).
 
Twice this season, Bryce Calloway has homered in the eighth inning or later and was the finishing pitcher on the mound. He homered and got the save on Mar. 23 at Nicholls. Calloway is hitting .292 with five homers at the plate and has two wins and a save on the mound this yea.
 
Colton Mercer enters the weekend sixth in the Southland in innings pitched and third in strikeouts. Mercer has 73 strikeouts on the season. Last week against Southeastern, Mercer set a new mark with 12 strikeouts in seven innings of work.
 
Five regular starters have an on-base percentage of .400 or better for the Privateers. As a team, New Orleans is second in the SLC with a .405 OBP and first in walks drawn with 262.
 
New Orleans and Northwestern State played five times last season. The Demons went 2-1 in the regular season series and the Privateers went 2-0 in the Southland Tournament. In 2022, the Privateers had five meetings against Southeastern and were 0-5 (all in Hammond).
 
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
Northwestern State sits fourth in the Southland standings at 10-11 but will be finished with their conference slate this weekend. The Demons took one of three against Southland leader, Lamar last weekend and lost a 6-5 decision against LSU on Tuesday.
 
Prestwich is the only Demon pitcher to have started every weekend this season. He is tied for ninth in the conference in innings pitched with 60.2 and has 56 strikeouts on the year. Reese Lipoma leads the team in batting average at .306. Balin Valentine leads the team in home runs with nine.
 
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! 
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