Late-inning explosion at plate fuels UNO past UIW, 11-3

NEW ORLEANS – Sophomore left-hander Tyler LeBlanc struck out a career-high 10 batters as the Privateers (24-19, 10-9 Southland) defeated UIW (16-26, 6-13 Southland) 11-3 to open the series on Friday night at Maestri Field.

DECISIONS
Jack Williams (5-1) got the victory or the Privateers after replacing LeBlanc in the seventh. Williams completed two innings, allowing two hits and a run. Steve Hayward (1-5) took the loss in relief for the Cardinals after allowing four hits and five runs – all earned in just 0.2 innings.

HOW IT HAPPENED
New Orleans got on the board first in the bottom of the second. With the bases loaded and no outs, Isaac Williams hit into a 6-4-3 double play in the bottom of the second that scored Travis Gober.

The Cardinals took advantage of two wild pitches in the top of the third to even the score before LeBlanc struck out Jimmy DeLeon and Hernan Yanez to end the inning. Nixon Brannan doubled to left center scoring Alex Carr, giving UIW a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth.

Kasten Furr beat out an infield single to load the bases in the bottom of the seventh before Amani Larry doubled in Tyler Bischke, and Williams to take the lead 3-2.

Pearce Howard stuck out, but the ball got by UIW’s Yanez as Furr and Larry came home to extend the UNO lead. Miguel Useche added an RBI single, and Jeissy de La Cruz smashed a two-run double into the right center gap that capped off a seven-run seventh for the Privateers.

Howard hit his seventh home run in the bottom of the eighth and finished and finished the night 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI. He also moved his career RBI total to 199. Larry finished 2-for-5 with 3 RBI. Furr extended his career-long hitting streak to 11 games after finishing 1-for-5 with a run scored.

LeBlanc completed six innings, allowing just two hits and striking out ten in the no decision.

NEXT UP

UNO returns to action tomorrow afternoon for game two of the series. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

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