BATON ROUGE — Senior right-hander Chris Cahill hurled 5.1 innings of one-hit ball Wednesday night, and LSU posted a four-run first en route to snapping a five-game losing streak, 7-2, over New Orleans at Alex Box Stadium.
The Tigers (27-16) improved to 9-1 in mid-week contests on the season, including a 2-0 mark against the Privateers.
UNO (22-21) saw its four-game winning streak come to an end.
LSU plays host to No. 11 Arkansas in a three-game SEC series this weekend. Game times are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
Live streaming video and audio of the games are available in the Geaux Zone powered by USAgencies on www.LSUsports.net. Friday and Saturday’s contests will also be televised by Cox Sports Television (Cable Ch. 37 in Baton Rouge).
Cahill (1-0) earned the first victory of his career Wednesday, allowing no runs on one hit while striking out a career-high five batters and walking three. The Orlando, Fla., native took a no-hitter into the sixth in only the second start of his career.
“I just basically tried to throw strikes and pitch my game,” said Cahill. “The no-hitter was never on my mind. My goal was just to get outs.”
Designated hitter Jordan Mayer paced the Tigers at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two RBI. First baseman J.T. Wise drove in two on an RBI single, and centerfielder Jarred Bogany added three hits.
Right-hander Branon Johnson (0-5) was charged with the loss, surrendering four runs on seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
LSU jumped on Johnson early for four runs in the first. Left fielder Bruce Sprowl and shortstop Michael Hollander connected on back-to-back singles, and right fielder Quinn Stewart walked to load the bases. Wise then ripped a two-run single to centerfield, scoring Sprowl and Hollander.
Mayer followed with an RBI single of his own, and third baseman Will Harris drove in Mayer two batters later with a sacrifice fly.
Cahill, staked to a 4-0 lead, did not allow a hit through the first five innings. Then in the sixth, right fielder Michael Epping dropped down a one-out bunt single for the Privateers’ first hit of the game. Cahill was then lifted for left-hander Ryan Byrd after 5.1 innings of work.
Second baseman Johnny Giavotella reached when Harris misplayed a grounder that caromed into left field. UNO’s first real threat of the game was erased when Byrd caught Epping in a rundown, and Harris tagged out Giavotella for a rare 1-5 double play.
Relievers Matt McKissick and Adam Campbell held the Tigers to a run in four innings of relief, keeping the Privateers within striking distance.
“We just kind of sat back after the early inning,” said head coach Smoke Laval. “The base running blunder by them probably won us the game.”
UNO trimmed the deficit to 4-2 in the seventh and put the tying run on first with no outs. The rally started when Byrd issued consecutive walks to first baseman Greg Wolfe and third baseman Mike Baxter.
Edgar Ramirez inherited the jam and gave up a single to designated hitter Mike Constantino, which loaded the bases with nobody out. However, Ramirez posted two critical strikeouts of catcher Alex Webster and shortstop David Broussard.
Leadoff hitter Jason Schwab then got the Privateers on the board with a two-run single through the left side. Ramirez then ended the inning by fanning Epping, who entered the game batting .401.
LSU put the game away in the eighth with an RBI single from Harris and a sacrifice fly from catcher Robert Lara.
Junior Jonathan Wilhite tossed two scoreless innings of relief to qualify for the first save of his career.
“Wilhite obviously pitched better than he has (in previous outings),” said Laval. “We know he can throw strikes, and that has been his problem lately. Tonight, he did.”
LSU 7, New Orleans 2 (Apr 26, 2006 at Baton Rouge, La.)
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New Orleans……… 000 000 200 – 2 4 2 (22-21)
LSU…………………. 400 010 02X – 7 12 1 (27-16)
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Pitchers: New Orleans – Johnson; McKissick(4); Campbell(6); O’Shea(8). LSU – Cahill; Byrd(6); Ramirez(7); Wilhite(8).
Win-Cahill(1-0) Save-Wilhite(1) Loss-Johnson(0-5) T-2:56 A-6938
Actual attendance: 1,392
Byrd faced 2 batters in the 7th.
Ramirez faced 2 batters in the 8th.