Villescas provides clutch hits as UNO edges SLU, secures Dean’s 250th coaching win

HAMMOND, La. – Diego Villescas lined an RBI single into center field in the ninth inning that put the New Orleans Privateers ahead for good as they defeated the Southeastern Lions 4-3 on Friday night at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.

The win gave Head Coach Blake Dean 250 career victories.

Facing Lakin Polk, Villescas came through as he did throughout a career night where he went 4-for-5 at the plate. Villescas worked a full count before he took a pitch back up the middle that scored Issac Williams to give the Privateers the lead heading into the last of the ninth.

From there Ryan Delorbe, who was working his second inning of relief, got the last three outs. He got Cole Stromboe to ground out to short then struck out Parker Coley. To end the game, Delorbe induced a lazy fly ball to right off the bat of Ryan Brome that ended the contest in the Privateers’ favor.

Southeastern grabbed their first lead of the game in the bottom of the sixth. A solo homer by TJ Salvaggio tied the game at 2-2. Then Jake Haze tripled down the right field line and was brought in by an RBI infield single from Stromboe.

New Orleans answered back in the seventh though. Williams, who had a three-hit night, blasted a one-out triple to center. Two batters later, it was Villescas who singled through the right side on a 1-2 pitch that tied the game at 3-3.

Starters, Colton Mercer and Brennan Stuprich went at it for seven innings each. Mercer generated strikeouts in several big situations. He struck out the side in the fourth and recorded three strikeouts in the sixth to keep the deficit at a run. Mercer struck out a career-high 12 batters and threw 71 of his 105 pitches for strikes.

Miguel Useche came home for the first run of the game. He led off the second with his 48th career double. That ties Useche with Jim Bullinger and Nick Schwaner for fifth on the career doubles list. Three batters later, Maika Niu brought Useche in on an RBI single.

INSIDE THE BOX
The Privateers had 15 hits on the night. It was the 10th time New Orleans had double-digit hits against a conference opponent. Williams went 3-for-4 with a triple and two runs. Niu also finished with three hits and an RBI.

Shea Thomas and Salvaggio each had solo home runs on the night. Stuprich threw a season-high 113 pitches and had seven strikeouts. The Lions had nine hits as a team.

NEXT UP
The series continues on Saturday with a first pitch scheduled for 6 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!
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SOCIAL MEDIA
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LINE SCORE
New Orleans 4, Southeastern 3 (May 03, 2024 at Hammond, LA)
———————————————————————————-
New Orleans ……… 010 001 101 – 4 15 0 (25-20, 10-6 SLC)
Southeastern ……… 001 002 000 – 3 9 0 (22-23, 4-12 SLC)
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Pitchers: New Orleans – Mercer, Colton; Delorbe, Ryan (8) and Useche, Miguel. Southeastern – Stuprich, Brennan; Polk, Lakin (8) and Sorensen, Bailyn.

Win – Delorbe, Ryan (3-1) Loss – Polk, Lakin (4-3) T-2:32 A-1322
HR SLU – Thomas, Shea (8); Salvaggio, TJ (11).
Weather: 77 Partly Cloudy, ESE 4 mph