April 1, 2001
New Orleans, La. - New Orleans avoided a series sweep as they held off Western Kentucky 3-2 in the series finale Sunday afternoon.
The Privateers struck first against Hilltopper start Brian Houdek (Sr., Dyer, Ind.) in the third inning. SS Chandler Rose led off the inning with a walk and moved to third on a single by CF Donnie Bollich. LF Drew Pizza then reached on an infield single scoring Rose and 2B Steve Rowell grounded into a 5-4-3 double play that allowed Bollich to score and give UNO a 2-0 lead. New Orleans added another run in the fourth as DH Jeff Lipari drew a one-out walk and moved to third on a single by 3B J.D. Huether. Catcher Mike Sanchez then plated Lipari with an RBI groundout to second to put the Privateers on top 3-0.
Western finally broke got on the board in the seventh as catcher Ryan Cattell (Jr., Minnetonka, Minn.) continued his hot hitting as he homered to right off UNO starter Shaylar Hatch to make it a 3-1 game.
The Toppers were held scoreless from that point until the ninth, but refused to die in their last at-bat. After Hatch retired the first two batters of the inning, 3B Nick Turner (Jr., Louisvlle, Ky.) homered to left field Western within a run at 3-2. However, Jeff Stander came relieved Hatch and struck out Cattell to end the game and pick up the save.
Hatch picked up the win going 8.2 innings, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out three. Houdek (4-1) suffered the loss going all eight innings giving up three runs on seven hits while striking out six UNO batters. Cattell had two hits to lead the offense.
Western will return home Tuesday night as they take on Tennessee Tech at 6 p.m. CDT.
- WKU -
