A new UNO baseball season is underway, and while the Privateers were unable to sweep in the MLB Andre Dawson Classic, they did grab two wins in their three games.On opening night at Maestri Field, New Orleans rallied from a 4-2 deficit late to tie Illinois-Chicago, then walked off the Flames in the bottom of the 10th inning on a Darren Willis bloop single over a drawn-in infield for a 5-4 victory. The bullpen was the story in this one, as they got 4 2/3 scoreless innings from relievers William Griffin and Mathew Oset, which paved the way for the comeback.
On Saturday, the Privateers got their first home run of the season from transfer newcomer Cody Ducote, but still fell to Alabama State at Barrow Stadium by a 6-3 score. The game was carried nationally on the MLB Network.
On Sunday back at the Maes, the struggling UNO offense got a look at the lesser end of Southern's pitching staff and took advantage, exploding for 14 runs, including an eight-run seventh inning, in a 14-3 victory. Jacob McFadden went deep for New Orleans for his first home run, and John Thomas Mauldin added two doubles.
The Privateers will be back at home on Tuesday night against Jackson State before they travel to Baton Rouge to face LSU on Wednesday.
