UNO scores big early but falls at Northwestern State

NATCHITOCHES, La. – The New Orleans Privateers got out to a big start but fell behind in the middle innings of a 14-11 slugfest on Friday night against the Northwestern State Demons at Brown-Stroud Field.

DECISIONS
Cameron Taylor pitched three innings and picked up the win in relief for the Demons. The loss was charged to Dylan Porter. Ethan Francis earned his first save of the year.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Privateers got out quickly against starter, Donovan Ohnoutka as they scored seven in the first inning on just two hits. Four walks occurred and the big hit was a grand slam by Issac Williams to give the Privateers a seven-run advantage.

The Demons loaded the bases with one out but could not score in the first. However, they struck for five in the second inning to start the rally. Bailyn Sorensen tripled to score the first run and Gabe Colaianni hit a two-run homer.

After a run in the third, the Demons exploded for seven more in the fourth. The big hit in that inning came after the Demons went ahead. Bo Willis hit a grand slam to put an exclamation point on a 13-7 lead.

New Orleans attempted to rally, scoring in three consecutive innings from the sixth through the eighth. However, Francis was able to retire the side in order when called upon in the ninth inning to bring the Demons back into a tie in the standings with the Privateers.

INSIDE THE BOX
Caleb Menina threw 3.1 scoreless innings and struck out three. Williams also walked twice and scored twice on top of his grand slam in the first inning. Pearce Howard went 2-for-6 while Amani Larry, Miguel Useche and Anthony Herron Jr. each had two RBI.

CONFERENCE PICTURE
The loss eliminated the Privateers from the SLC regular season title race and contention to host next week’s conference tournament games.

NEXT UP
The series concludes Saturday at 1 p.m. Right-hander Drayton Brown (5-5, 4.09) starts for Northwestern State against New Orleans left-hander Kyle Khachadourian (4-2, 4.31).

Northwestern State 14, New Orleans 11
UNO 700 001 210 – 11 10 2
NSU 051 710 00x – 14 16 0
W – Cameron Taylor (3-1). L – Dylan Porter (1-2). S – Ethan Francis (1). 2B – UNO, Andrew Guidry 2. NSU, Daunte Stuart, Gray Rowlett, Larson Fontenot. 3B – NSU, Bailyn Sorensen. HR – UNO, Isaac Williams (8). NSU, Gabe Colaianni (3), Bo Willis (10), Cam Sibley (2). Highlights: UNO, Pearce Howard 2-6; Jeissy DeLaCruz 2-4; Guidry 2-3, 2 2Bs. NSU, Jake Haze 3-4, 2 RBIs; Stuart 4-5, 2B, RBI; Willis 2-4, GS, 4 RBIs; Larson Fontenot 2-5.