Southern Miss' Taylor Braley entered Wednesday night's start against New Orleans with a 7.50 ERA, but you could have fooled the Privateers.Actually, he did fool the Privateers all night, striking out 11 and allowing just two hits over 7 1/3 innings of shutout baseball. In addition, he batted cleanup and smacked three hits, including a double, for 3 RBI. In between innings, he probably sold nachos and eliminated the national debt or something. It all came together for a 6-0 Golden Eagle victory.
For New Orleans, Hezekiah Randolph did walk, which means he's gotten on base in all 13 games this season. Christopher DeMayo, a freshman southpaw, put together a solid, workmanlike six-inning start, surrendering just two runs, but was outdueled by Braley.
UNO begins conference play on Friday night at Maestri Field, the start of a three-game split series against Southeastern Louisiana. Saturday's game will be in Hammond, and the teams will return to New Orleans on Sunday for the finale.
