The University of New Orleans Privateers plated six runs in the fifth inning en route to a 16-15 slugfest victory over the Tulane Green Wave Tuesday night at Maestri Field.

UNO senior third baseman Nick Schwaner, a 2006 Slidell High graduate, went 2-3 with an RBI and scored four runs, while Salmen High grad outfielder Ryan Eden went 2-4 with two runs batted in and scored three times. Privateers’ junior designated hitter, Jay Morris, a Mandeville High grad, went 2-5 against Tulane with two runs batted in.

UNO, 3-5 at press time, took the second game of the First NBC Bank Cup after Tulane won the first contest 7-1 at home back on Feb. 24. Tulane stands at 6-5.

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Schwaner talked about the victory over the Green Wave.

“It is always a good victory when you beat Tulane, our cross-town rival. Beating them makes it a little sweeter. It was a back-and-forth game. Our offense came together and we hit the ball really well,” Schwaner said.

“I felt comfortable at the plate. I saw the ball really well that night and was able to produce a couple hits. We jumped on them early. They were able to fight back, but we scored a few more to give us a cushion. We were able to hold off their ninth inning rally throwing a runner out at the plate,” Schwaner added.

Schwaner is hitting .333 with six runs batted in and five doubles. He tops the Privateers with 13 runs scored and has a .459 on base percentage. Schwaner is majoring in management and carries a 2.4 grade point average.

Eden talked about the Privateers’ victory.

“It was a classic game where we had to score runs to stay in it. That victory showed we can’t afford to relax after we get an early lead. All of a sudden they were able to come back on us,” Eden said.

Eden talked about the Privateers’ bats coming around.

“I started out slow offensively along with my teammates and it felt good for everybody to get into a groove hitting the ball,” Eden added.

Eden, the Privateers’ fleet footed outfielder, is batting .269 with four runs batted in and has scored 11 times, second on the club. Eden has one homer and a double.

Eden is majoring in business marketing and is carrying a 2.7 GPA.

The Privateers generated excellent production from their one through three hole-hitters in the Green Wave victory, going a combined 6-for-12 with 10 runs scored. The next four hitters collected nine RBIs between them.

Morris, batting .361 on the season, second on the team behind Kevin Berry (.387), tops the Privateers with 13 hits and has eight runs batted in with two doubles.

Morris said it was a satisfying win against Tulane.

“Being from the area and Tulane being a rival, it was an amazing feeling to beat them. We have been working hard day in and day out. Our team has a lot of potential to do great things this season. Beating Tulane, which is a prestigious program, put a little notch in our belt as we move forward,” Morris said.

“We are taking things day-by-day and game-by-game. We believe in each other and we feel confident this can be a special season,” Morris added.

Morris is majoring in business marketing and has a 2.5 GPA.

Privateers’ head coach Bruce Peddie in his first season after serving as the assistant coach and hitting coach talked about his club turning the Tulane game into a slugfest.

“We jumped on them early and then we didn’t get the pitching. We were able to jump back on them and then we didn’t get some more pitching. We certainly made it interesting at the end with a great throw from Craig Schnell to get Rob Segedin at the plate,” Peddie said.

“Our big success for years since I have been around is the offense and the kids are starting to come through with that and that is a big thing for us,” Peddie added.

Coach Peddie was asked about the offensive success against Tulane by some of the former St. Tammany Parish players namely, Eden, Schwaner and Morris.

“Those three guys as a group hitting one (Eden), three (Schwaner) and five (Morris) in the lineup all bring something a little different. Ryan Eden is a guy who ignites this team getting on base and can steal some bases. Nick Schwaner has been an RBI guy since he’s been here and Jay Morris is probably one of the most complete college hitters that you will see. He doesn’t hit for a lot of power, but in RBI situations he is really a tough out,” Peddie said.

“Those three guys had a super game against Tulane. You’re talking about two seniors and a junior and they need to help carry this club,” the first-year head coach added.

On the mound, Privateers’ red-shirt freshman Andrew Richardson, from St. Paul’s, made his second start of the season and went three and two-third innings in a no-decision. He allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits, striking out one and walking three.

UNO junior Tyler Sanders, a Slidell High grad, relieved Mats Mattson in the fifth inning, throwing two innings of one-hit, scoreless relief. Sanders posted one strike out and walked a batter. It was Sanders’ fourth relief appearance.

Other former St. Tammany Parish players turned in solid performances for the Green Wave as well with Tulane freshman right fielder Brandon Boudreaux, a St. Paul’s graduate, went 4-6 with a walk and drove in two runs. He raised his average to .369. Tulane freshman Alex Byo delivered three hits including his first homer. Green Wave freshman shortstop Garrett Cannizaro contributed two hits in five trips with an RBI and scored a run for the Greenies. Cannizaro, a Mandeville High grad, extended his hitting streak to 11 games, lifting his average to .383.

Tulane junior Nick Boullosa, a Covington High graduate, made his presence felt going 3-4 with a run batted in and scored four times. Boullosa collected a single, double and a triple along with a walk, upping his average to .435.

Mandeville graduate Jamie Bruno made a pinch hitting appearance, drawing a walk and he scored, while Northlake Christian School’s Karl Mundt went 0-1 in a pinch-hitting role.

The Privateers raced out to a 6-0 lead in the second inning. The Green Wave was able to fight back with a four-spot in the third and two in the fourth to tie it. UNO answered with two runs in the fourth to regain the lead at 8-6. The Privateers led 16-10 entering the top of the ninth, but the Green Wave failed to go quietly plating five runs in their final at bat coming up just short in the 16-15 loss. Tulane ripped 19 hits, but committed four errors in the one-run loss, while UNO generated 11 hits and committed three errors.

A couple other former St. Tammany Parish players, Northshore High pitcher Cody Deckwa and Northlake Christian School’s Justin Cromartie are also on the Privateers’ roster.