Mercer’s brilliant start sets tone, offense surges in Privateers’ win vs. UIW

NEW ORLEANS – Colton Mercer turned in another brilliant outing with a career-high 11 strikeouts and the offense supplied a middle inning surge as the New Orleans Privateers topped the UIW Cardinals 12-2 in eight innings on Thursday at Maestri Field.

Mercer recorded his first seven outs via a strikeout and he was resilient when facing a tight spot in the third inning. With the bases loaded and one out after a walk and two hit batters, Mercer rebounded to get a strikeout of cleanup hitter, Ryan Scott. He induced a ground ball from Tony DeJesus which Collin Loupe covered in the hole at short and got the force at second to get the Privateers out of a jam.

The offense started to go to work in the fourth inning. Back-to-back doubles by Victor Castillo and Mitchell Sanford accounted for the first run of the game. Two batters later, Bryce Calloway hit two-run homer down the right field line and the Privateers led 4-0 after four innings.

It continued into the fifth as Issac Williams blasted a two-run homer to the right of the scoreboard. Later in the frame, Miguel Useche hit a two-run double. It counted as the 41st double in his Privateer career.

Mercer continued to coast for six strong innings as he allowed only two hits against the Southland’s leading offense in batting average. All 11 of his strikeouts on the night were on swings and misses.

The Cardinals avoided the run rule after the Privateers got to a 9-0 lead but stranded a runner at third in the seventh. UIW then scored two in the eighth to get on the board as Scott hit a two-run home run.

However, the run rule came a half inning later. Sanford drilled an RBI single to center and three consecutive walks issued by Garrett Coiner followed. The last officially put the finishing touches on the fifth run rule victory of the season.

The six-game winning streak is one shy of tying Blake Dean’s longest in his tenure. Dean had a pair of seven-game winning streaks in his first season (2016).

INSIDE THE BOX
Castillo, Useche, Sanford and Calloway accounted for 11 of the Privateers’ 13 hits, nine of the 11 RBI and nine of the 12 runs scored. Williams went 1-for-4 with a homer, a walk, two RBI and two runs. Diego Villescas went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run.

Grant Randall and Rob Liddington each had a double. Dave Johnson got the start and gave up five runs in four innings with one walk and four strikeouts.

NEXT UP
The series continues on Friday at 6:30 p.m.

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
Fans are encouraged to follow @PrivateersBSB on Twitter/X, @PrivateersBSB on Instagram, like Privateers Baseball on Facebook and subscribe to the UNOPrivateers YouTube.