Blue Raiders Swept by UNO, 8-3

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Josh Anderson tossed a career-high 7.2 innings and allowed just two earned runs, but New Orleans scored three times in the eighth to break a tie and went on to an 8-3 victory over Middle Tennessee and a series sweep Sunday at Reese Smith Field.

New Orleans (24-12, 10-5 Sun Belt) became the first team since 2002 to sweep Middle Tennessee (20-20, 10-8) at Reese Smith Field, battling the weather all weekend and winning two games on Sunday, the final six innings of Game Two in the series, 12-7, and then the final game of the series, 8-3.

Anderson (1-1) suffered the tough-luck loss for Middle Tennessee, the first weekend start of the redshirt senior's career. The lefthander allowed four runs, two earned, on five hits, walking one and striking out a career-high seven.

The Blue Raiders and Privateers were tied at three until Anderson walked Joey Butler with two outs in the eighth. Middle Tennessee reliever Jordan Alvis got a high pop from Johnny Giavotella that was held up by the wind.

The ball fell in short right between Matt Campbell and Wayne Kendrick and Butler hustled all the way on the play, scoring from first on the play. Drew Anderson followed with a two-run homer to left, hitting a hanging breaking ball over the wall for his 12th home run of the year and giving the Privateers a 6-3 advantage.

UNO starter Ryan O'Shea (2-2) worked 7.2 strong innings, giving up one earned run on six hits. He walked one and struck out two. Adam Campbell got the final five outs for his fourth save of the year, striking out one.

The Privateers got off to a fast start for the third straight game, with Brandon Bowser doubling into leftcenter on the first pitch of the contest. T.J. Baxter followed with an RBI single before Butler doubled into rightcenter. But Anderson settled down, striking out Giavotella and Anderson before a groundout ending the inning with UNO scoring just once.

Middle Tennessee took its first lead of the series with three runs in the third inning, aided by a Privateer throwing error. Matt Ray walked with one out before Campbell doubled down the rightfield line. Kendrick then grounded to Baxter at third base, whose throw sailed over the first baseman's head and down the line in foul territory.

Ray scored easily and Campbell came around to score from second on the play. Kendrick went to second on the play, third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly from Rawley Bishop.

UNO tied the game with a pair of unearned runs in the fourth. Jarrod Ware singled to leadoff and Bowser followed with a grounder to short, but Kendrick dropped Ray's throw and Ware moved to third. A wild pitch plated Ware and after Bowser stole third, Baxter's sacrifice fly tied the contest at three.

The Blue Raiders had singles in the bottom of the eighth from Kendrick and Zach Barrett, but Grant Box grounded out to end the threat.

The Privateers added two more runs in the ninth. Ware singled with one out, stole second and scored on Bowser's single to right. Baxter singled to center and both runners stole a base before Bowser scored on a wild pitch.

New Orleans 12, Middle Tennessee 7
In the suspended game picked up Sunday morning, New Orleans led 6-3 when the game was resumed in the top of the fourth and the Privateers added single runs in the fourth and fifth before scoring four times in the ninth for a 12-7 victory.

In the fourth Bowser and Butler both singled with one out before an RBI groundout from Baxter.

In the fifth Nick Schwaner walked to leadoff and Anderson singled to center. Zach Hudson's throw to third was late and Anderson moved up to second on the play as well. Mark McGonigle's sacrifice fly gave UNO an 8-3 advantage.

The Blue Raiders scored twice in the seventh after Ray singled to leadoff and Hudson reached on an error by Ware, one of three for the UNO shortstop in the contest. A fielder's choice put runners on the corners before an RBI single from Bishop. Ervin eventually scored on a balk, cutting the UNO lead to 8-5.

The Privateers plated four runs in the ninth after Ware doubled down the leftfield line to leadoff. Bowser then walked and Butler sacrificed, but Bishop's throw to third was just late, loading the bases. Baxter's single to right plated two runs.

The throw to the plate went to the backstop and Baxter moved toward second, but Butler had not advanced. Middle Tennessee reliever Nick Marrs threw to Bishop to try and get Baxter, who took off back toward second. Bishop's throw sailed over Ray's head and into leftfield, allowing Butler to score on the play. Baxter eventually scored UNO's final run of the contest on a wild pitch.

The Blue Raiders scored twice in the bottom of the ninth after Hudson walked to leadoff. Baxter's throw to second on a Bishop grounder was wild and allowed Hudson to move to third. Campbell's RBI grounder plated Hudson and Bishop later scored on a Barrett RBI single.

Brett Smalley (2-4) took the loss, giving up six runs on six hits in 1.2 innings at the start of the game on Saturday. Brett Reilley worked 3.1 total innings, getting five outs before the rains came on Saturday and five more outs on Sunday. Marrs tossed the final four innings.

UNO starter Bryan Cryer (5-2) picked up the win, allowing two earned runs on five hits in 5.0 innings. Cryer tossed three innings on Saturday and two more on Sunday.

Barrett and Ray both collected six hits in the series, but the Blue Raiders posted a 10.00 ERA as a team.

Middle Tennessee hosts Vanderbilt on Wednesday at Reese Smith Field at 6 p.m.

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