Braves Give Privateers a Scare in Series Finale

NEW ORLEANS – Jumping out to a four-run first inning, the Alcorn State University baseball program led most of the way against New Orleans on Sunday, but the Privateers were able to come back for a 7-6 decision at Maestri Field.
 
The first inning was capped by a three-run bomb by senior Jason Sanez with two outs.
 
The frame was started by a single to center field by junior Wallace Rios Jimenez. He moved to third base after a hit to right field by senior Walter Vives. Alcorn (4-7) got on the board with a single up the middle by junior Kirt Cormier. Sanez then launched a shot over the left field wall on a 2-0 count.
 
The Privateers (9-3), who have a win over No. 2 LSU this year, came back with a run in the bottom of the first, and a couple more in the second to make it a 4-3 game.
 
Alcorn answered with a two-run third inning to go back up 6-3. The Braves moved station-to-station with singles by senior Justin Barna, Cormier, Sanez and an RBI by senior Patrick McMahon. An RBI ground out to the right side by freshman Anthony Acosta scored Barna.
 
UNO chipped away with runs in the fourth and sixth, and then tied it with another in the seventh. The Privateers walked off with a one-out single by Samuel Capielano to left field which scored Darren Willis.
 
Senior Daniel Belmont got the start for the Braves and got a no-decision after throwing 5.0 innings. sophomore Carlos Lopez (0-1) went 3.1 innings but took the loss. Reeves Martin (2-1) was credited the win for UNO after pitching 4.0 innings of scoreless ball.
 
Sanez ended the day going three-for-four with a run and three RBI. For the weekend, he tallied a .444 batting average and a .778 slugging percentage. Both were team bests. For the season, Sanez is now hitting a team-best .375 average.
 
Cormier also had a good day for the Braves as he went two-for-four with two runs and an RBI.
 
The Privateers were guided by Tristan Clarke who finished four-for-four with a walk.
 
Alcorn will play its SWAC opener next weekend when it hosts Mississippi Valley State in a three-game series beginning at 6 p.m. Friday.
 
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