No. 6 McNeese Advances to Semifinals After Extras
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SUGAR LAND, Texas – No. 6 McNeese defeated No. 7 New Orleans 8-4 in 13 innings Thursday to advance in the 2016 Southland Baseball Tournament at Constellation Field.
This marked the longest-inning game in Southland Conference tournament game history, as the previous was a 12-inning game (2015, 1994), and lasted 4 hours and 25 minutes.
McNeese junior right-hander relief pitcher Collin Kober recorded his longest outing of his career, throwing 5.0 innings to pick up the win.
The Cowboys’ got on the board early, as freshman designated hitter singled through the right side to score junior Ricky Ramirez for a 1-0 lead over the Privateers.
In the bottom of the first inning, junior second baseman Samuel Capielano doubled to right center to get on base for UNO. Junior first baseman Dakota Dean walked to put two runners on. Junior right fielder Hezekiah Randolph singled up the middle, advancing Dean to second base. Senior catcher Kyle Bracey single to the left side to score Dean for a 2-1 lead.
McNeese’ Ramirez reached on an error, but was tagged out on a 9-5-4-3 rundown allowing junior shortstop Will Fox scored during the scramble in the bottom of the second inning for a 2-2 tied game.
The Cowboys took a 4-2 lead in the top of the fourth inning. Freshman left fielder Shane Selman hit his 10th home run of the season for a 3-2 lead. Junior third baseman Matt Gallier singled to center field scoring Fox before UNO retired the side.
In the bottom of the ninth inning New Orleans put runners on first and second base with senior left fielder Ryan Calloway at the plate. Calloway doubled of the third baseman’s glove scoring senior third baseman Preston Marsh, 4-3. Sophomore center fielder Jay Robinson knocked a sacrifice fly in right field scoring senior pinch hitter Chaz Boyer for a 4-4 tie to force extra innings.
McNeese scored three runs in the top of the 13th inning, first on a single from sophomore second baseman Joe Provenzano through the right side to score senior first baseman Connor Crane. Selman tripled to right center scoring Gallier and Provenzano. Fox singled to right field scoring Provenzano to end the inning lead UNO 8-4.
No. 6 McNeese advances to the 4 p.m. game to take on No. 2 Southeastern Louisiana as No. 7 New Orleans ended its season 31-26 in head coach Blake Dean’s first season at the helm.
McNeese Head Coach Justin Hill
On freshman Shane Selman’s four-hit, three-RBI performance
“Shane had some big hits four our team today. He had a home run that put us ahead and another to help stretch the lead out later in the game. He has done some special things for us this season and you just never know when it is going to come. That is why we are able to stick with him”
On the throw at the plate late in the ballgame and the response after
“That was huge because it kept it at a two-run ballgame and then we had a chance to stretch it out later. There were all kinds of things we could have done to finish the game off in nine innings but it didn’t work out that way. Credit our guys for finding a way to win today.”
On Collin Kober’s career-high pitching performance
“That is the most he has pitched this year but he has gone that long before. You prepare all year for moments like that if our staff asks you to. It wasn’t certainly how we drew it up but there have been a lot of moments that went that way this season.”
New Orleans Head Coach Blake Dean
On fight team showed throughout the year
“This game even though we lost, it summed up what we were made of and the fight, desire to win, and a never quit attitude. These guys were tired of losing and they demonstrated that today even though we fell a little short.”
On laying foundation for next season
“They know how to win now. They know the amount of work it takes and these seniors have laid the foundation for what we hope to do moving forward and that’s win championships.”