No. 8 UNO upsets No. 1 Southeastern in opening round of Southland tournament

HAMMOND (WGNO) – Leading up to Thursday night, Privateers’ senior Bryce Calloway said UNO was “probably the most dangerous” eighth seed in Southland Conference tournament history, and the utility player’s words range true in the opening round.

Calloway started the madness in the first inning. The New Orleans native launched a pitch down the left field line, but Southeastern’s outfield couldn’t find the ball. Matt Gonzalez scored, and Calloway crossed home plate for a two-run inside-the-park homer.

The Privateers scored four unanswered-runs to begin the matchup, but the Lions showed signs of life in the second. UL-transfer Ben Robichaux recorded his third home run of the season with a two-run blast to left center, cutting UNO’s 4-0 lead in half.

However, Calloway would not be denied in the fifth inning. The senior smashed a solo shot to right center, and his homer was one of two long balls in the frame. Two batters later, Tristan Moore went yard for another UNO solo shot, and the Privateers were sailing with a 6-2 lead.

Southeastern could never close the four-run gap though. Down to their final out in the bottom of the ninth in a 10-6 ball game, Calloway stepped in and punched out the Lions’ final batter for the save.

“We got a chip on our shoulder. We’re finally starting to put it together. Talk about playing well at the right time, and that’s what this team has done. Through it all, I’ve been very proud of this team,” Privateers first-year head coach Dax Norris said.

“A lot of people didn’t want us to sneak into the tournament just because we got experience; and we definitely have talent. That chemistry is unseen, but behind closed doors, we know that we have that too. As long as we can bring it together and just have that belief factor, we knew that we were gonna be able to come out here and get the job done,” Calloway added.

Calloway finished 2/4 batting with two hits, three RBI and two home runs.

UNO will face Northwestern State in the winner’s bracket Friday at 6 p.m. The Privateers lost their regular season series against the Demons: 1-0 (L), 3-1 (W), 10-9 (L).

Click the video above from highlights from the game and sound from the Privateers.

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