The loss was the third straight for the Hilltoppers as they fell to 10-7 on the season and 0-2 in Sun Belt play. UNO improved to 15-10 and 2-0 in the conference.
The Privateers struck early as they plated four runs in the top of the first off Hilltopper starter Kenny Griffin. With two outs, Johnny Giavotella and Greg Wolfe came through with back-to-back RBI doubles to plate the first two runs of the game. Alex Webster followed with a two-run home run over the wall in left to give UNO an early 4-0 lead.
That would be enough support for Privateer starter Matt Eichholz, as he held WKU to just two hits — singles by Dennis Winn and Jack Ambrose — through the first seven innings. However, the Privateers added another run in the third on a Webster RBI single, then added a pair of unearned runs fourth to open up a 7-0 lead.
In the fifth, a Michael Epping double off WKU reliever Zack Duncan drove home two more runs to make it a 9-0. Then, with two outs, Wolfe hit a three-run home run over the wall in right-center to stretch the lead to 12-0. UNO added another run in the sixth thanks to a David Broussard RBI single to pull out to a 13-run lead.
Evan Teague came in to blank the Privateers on two hits through 2.2 innings of relief, but UNO sent nine batters to the plate in the ninth against reliever Stephen Muck and scored three unearned runs to push the lead to 16-0.
The Hilltopper offense collected just three hits on the day, with an Eric Scriven double in the eighth accounting for other WKU hit. On the other side, New Orleans had eight players post double digit hits on its way to a season-high hit total. Starting catcher Josh Tarnow led the way going 5-for-5 on the afternoon.
Eichholtz (2-0) picked up the win for the Privateers as he allowed only two hits and struck out a pair of batters in 7.0 innings of work. Griffin (2-1) suffered the loss for WKU.
The Hilltoppers will look to avoid the sweep on Sunday as they close out the series with UNO. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. (CST).
