NEW ORLEANS - Jerad Comarda's RBI double in the bottom of the ninth lifted New Orleans to an 8-7 win over Youngstown State in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday at Maestri Field.
Comarda went 3-for-5 with four RBIs, as the Privateers (1-5) picked up their first win for first-year head coach Bruce Peddie.
Ryan Eden and Jay Morris each added two hits. Morris went 5-for-9 in the doubleheader.
The Privateers recorded a season-high 12 hits.
Eric Marzec went 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs to lead the Penguins (1-1). Jonathan Crist and Joe Iacobucci each added two hits.
YSU won the first game 11-4.
In the nightcap, the Privateers scored three runs in the seventh to grab a 7-4 lead. Comarda provided the big blow with a two-out, two-run double.
In the ninth, though, Marzec hit a double off UNO closer Kevin Berry (1-0) that scored two runs to cut the lead to 7-6. He later scored on a seeing-eye single from Iacobucci.
In the bottom of the inning, Schwaner led off with a walk. Peddie then called a hit-and-run, and Comarda laced a ground ball down the third-base line.
Schwaner never hesitated, rounding third and scoring well ahead of the throw from left fielder Armani Johnson.
Four Privateer pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts.
GAME 1 RECAP
Youngstown State shortstop Jacke Healey hit two home runs, including a crucial grand slam in the eighth inning, to help the Penguins to an 11-4 win at New Orleans in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday.
Healey scored three runs and had six RBIs, as the Penguins (1-0) won their season opener. Jeremy Banks went 4-for-6 with an RBI, and Eric Marzec had three hits and an RBI.
Marzec also got the save in relief of starter Aaron Swenson (1-0), who went 6.2 innings and allowed four runs despite five walks.
Jay Morris went 3-for-5 with three RBIs to lead UNO (0-5). The Privateers tallied seven hits and committed four errors.
Joe Zimmermann (0-2) absorbed the loss, giving up eight hits and six runs in 3.1 innings. The sophomore right-hander also struggled with five walks.
Four UNO pitchers combined for nine walks and a hit batter.
Things looked bright for UNO early, though. The Privateers scored two runs in the first without a hit thanks to some wildness from Swenson.
The All-Horizon League standout walked the first two hitters he faced. After Mike Petello put the Privateers up 1-0 with an RBI groundout, Morris made it 2-0 with an RBI single to left field.
Down 2-1 in the third, Healey tied it with an opposite-field solo home run. YSU scored four runs in the fourth to make it 6-2.
The Privateers cut the lead in half in the seventh on a two-out, two-run single from Morris. But YSU put it away in the eighth on Healey's grand slam.
The two teams will begin the nightcap at approximately 5 p.m.
