New Orleans, La. – Blake Estep’s strong performance on the mound and Rashawn Tillman’s hot bats at the plate helped the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (11-11, 6-3 SWAC) defeat the University of New Orleans Privateers 8-3 at Maestri Field at First NBC Ballpark on Saturday afternoon.
With the win the Golden Lions set up a game 3 rubber match with the Privateers (9-17, 2-7 Southland Conference) Sunday at 1:00p.m.
Estep was stellar on the mound after pitching a season high- complete game, earning his third win of the season (3-2). Estep struck out seven batters, allowing one run on seven hits and three walks.
UAPB came swinging out the gate when Rashawn Tillman single up the middle and reached second off a sac bunt from Westin Hinkel, senior Andre Davis single to left moving Tillman to third as he would eventually steal for home when Davis got caught in a run down between first and second, to put UAPB on the board first.
In the bottom of the first inning the Privateers jumped on the board when Ryan Calloway single up the middle, stole second and advance to third on a throwing error. Calloway would soon score after a single through right side by Jonathan Coco to even the score 1-1.
In the third inning UAPB extended its lead 4-2, when Andre Davis drilled a two-run double to right center to bring home Westin Hinkel and Tommy Haas.
In the batter’s box, Tillman had a trio of hits, including a fourth-inning single down left field, scoring Chris Beer and Vladimir Gomez, who both reached base on infield errors.
Drury Colin capped off the Golden Lions ‘ scoring with a long fly ball hit to center, scoring Gomez, making the score 8-3.
UNO scored twice off, once in the bottom of the second and sixth inning, but it was not enough as the Golden Lions pushed to seal the victory.
Jordan Priddle (4-2) allowed seven runs – three earned – in 4.1 innings on nine hits to take the loss for UNO. Ryan Calloway (2-for-4, RBI) led the Privateers offensively.
For UAPB, Rashawn Tillman tallied four hits as he went 4-for -5, two RBI’s, one run, and a stolen base, followed by Andre Davis going 2-for-4, two RBI’s, and Chris Burns and Jerimiah Figueroa both with two hits apiece. Tillman was 7-for-8 the last two games against the Privateers.
UAPB Sports Information
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