Privateers Host Non-Conference Foe, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF (10-10, 6-3) AT NEW ORLEANS (8-16, 2-7)
GAME 25-27 | NEW ORLEANS, LA. | MAESTRI FIELD AT FIRST NBC BALLPARK
FRIDAY 6:30 PM | SATURDAY 2 PM | SUNDAY 1 PM

GAME NOTES | AUDIO | VIDEO | TWITTER
 
THE SERIES:
The New Orleans Privateers baseball team (8-16, 2-7 Southland) faces a non-conference test to wrap up the final weekend of a 12-game home stand as they take on the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions (10-10, 6-3 SWAC) in a three-game series. First pitch for the opener is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Maestri Field at First NBC Ballpark.
 
The Privateers are trying to break a season-long five-game losing streak that has extended back to Mar. 17. New Orleans lost to the Loyola Wolfpack on Tuesday night, their first loss against Loyola since 1972. In the losing skid, the Privateers have been held to under five runs in four of five games.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff comes in after splitting a mid-week series against an SEC opponent, defeating Missouri 8-3 on Tuesday and losing to the Tigers 9-3 on Wednesday. The Golden Lions have taken two wins over SEC competition including a win over then-15^thranked Mississippi State on Mar. 3.
 
Carlos James is in the midst of his fifth season with Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Last season, James took the Golden Lions to a SWAC West Division title, their first in program history. In 2013, James was named the SWAC Coach of the Year. On the diamond, Andre Davis leads the team in batting average, hits, home runs, RBIS, slugging percentage, and is tied for the team lead in runs.

PITCHING ROTATION:
Friday- UNO: Alex Smith RHP (2-4, 3.11) vs. UAPB: Billy Olson RHP (4-2, 4.41)
Saturday- UNO: Jordan Priddle LHP (4-2, 3.49) vs. UAPB: Blake Estep RHP (2-2, 7.45)
Sunday- UNO: Daniel Martinez RHP (0-2, 5.90) vs. UAPB: Humberto Medina RHP (0-2, 3.98)
 
ALL-TIME SERIES:
RECORD: First meeting
 
NEXT UP:
The Privateers will have their second match-up against the Loyola Wolfpack on Tuesday, Mar. 31. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.
 
NEWS AND NOTES:
ALL THE WAY HOME:
Ryan Calloway has scored 19 runs this season, which leads the team and has been crossed the plate eight times in the last eight games. Calloway's run total currently ranks him in a tie for seventh most in the conference.

SWACCESS:
The Privateers will be playing their fourth, fifth, and sixth games against a SWAC opponent this season. At the MLB Urban Youth Invitational, New Orleans defeated three separate SWAC foes (Alcorn State, Southern, Grambling). In 2014, the Privateers went 4-1 against the SWAC.
 
KNOCK KNOCK:
Ray Veit is currently on a seven-game hitting streak after going 1-for-4 on Tuesday night against Loyola. The longest hitting streak so far this season by a Privateer was accomplished by Ryan Calloway who collected a hit in eight straight games from Mar. 3-17.
 
COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS MEDIA RELATIONS