Quiroga, Roadrunners complete sweep of Green Wave

NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Privateers pulled off another improbable rally as they scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth for a 10-9 comeback win over the UIW Cardinals on Saturday afternoon at Maestri Field.

Facing Westin Walls, the Privateers (16-11, 5-1) entered their half of the ninth trailing 9-5. Issac Williams came up and blasted a 434-foot home run, his fifth of the year to get the carousel started. From then on, it was all hustle out of the box and on the basepaths.

Mitchell Sanford and Miguel Useche both legged out infield hits. Useche’s hit had an ensuing throwing error behind it that made the score 9-7. Bryce Calloway hit a fly ball deep enough to center field that brought in Sanford to cut the deficit to one.

After Alexander Saunier was hit by a pitch, two consecutive pitches from Luis Rodriguez went to the backstop. The second scored Useche to tie the game.

With a 2-1 count, Maika Niu hit a rocket at 105 MPH off the bat that ricocheted off the third baseman, Ryder Hernandez. Saunier came home to score to cap off the Privateers’ third win this season when trailing after eight innings.

Calloway had a quick inning on the mound before the offense got going at the plate in the closing stages. He needed just eight pitches to retire the side in order after coming in as he picked up his first win on the mound this year.

The Privateers spent most of the back half of the game chasing the Cardinals. UIW scored three in the first inning but New Orleans responded with three in the second including a two-run homer by Saunier.

UIW (14-11, 2-4) broke open the tie game in the sixth when Tony DeJesus drove in a run on a single. The Cardinals also got RBI doubles from JD Gregson and Cameron Caley in that inning to extend the lead to 7-3.

Sanford closed the gap when he hit a two-run homer to left field off of Cardinals starter, Isaiah Zavala. Walls came in later in the frame and got a three-pitch strikeout to keep UIW ahead and they tacked on a run in the eighth and the ninth to extend their lead four before the Privateers’ rally commenced.

INSIDE THE BOX
Sanford went 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs. Saunier and Useche combined to go 6-for-6 at the plate with two RBI and four runs. Victor Castillo went 1-for-4 with two runs. Cortez Dennis struck out five batters in five innings of work.

DeJesus and Rob Liddington each had three hits. Daniel Calabrese went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs. Zavala went 6.2 innings and struck out nine but also gave up five runs on nine hits.

NEXT UP
The Privateers will host South Alabama on Tuesday 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