Southern University at New Orleans Triumphs Over Dillard in a Baseball Clash

NEW ORLEANS– On February 22, 2025, Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) dominated Dillard University in a spirited baseball encounter, clinching a 10-5 victory. The game, held at SUNO's home field in New Orleans, Louisiana, witnessed strategic play and emphasized defensive and offensive dynamics.

Both teams began cautiously, with no runs scored in the first inning. Dillard opened the scoring in the second inning when K'Wality Williams drove in Renard Smith with a single, giving them a 1-0 lead. However, SUNO quickly countered with B. Watson's single, bringing D. Lantigua and K. Shepherd home, propelling them to a 2-1 lead.

Dillard equalized in the third inning with Jalen Ayers hitting a sacrifice fly, allowing Braylon Guerin to score. Yet, SUNO seized the momentum in the bottom of the third with M. Black's double, scoring M. Bowens and K. Edmondson. D. Lantigua further extended SUNO's lead with a two-RBI single, closing the inning at 6-2.

The fourth inning mirrored SUNO's dominance, as fielding errors from Dillard allowed three more runs, pushing the score to 10-2. While Dillard managed to chip away at the deficit with sacrifice flies and capitalizing on wild pitches for additional runs in the fifth and seventh innings, they couldn't bridge the gap.

**Key Performances:**
- **D. Lantigua:** SUNO's standout performer with four RBIs and two hits.
- **M. Black:** Contributed significantly with two RBIs and a crucial double.
- **J. Ayers:** For Dillard, provided two RBIs through sacrifice plays.

**Pitching Analysis:**
- **Herazo, Jr:** SUNO's pitcher secured the win with a solid seven-inning performance, allowing only three earned runs and striking out four.
- **J. Guerra:** Faced a tough game for Dillard, conceding six runs in under three innings.

Fielding errors significantly influenced the game's direction, with Dillard committing three errors, which SUNO exploited for unearned runs. Meanwhile, SUNO's resilience and strategic batting in the middle innings ensured their lead was unassailable.

This victory marked a crucial win for Southern University at New Orleans, boosting their confidence as they continue their season. The match highlighted the importance of capitalizing on oppositional errors and maintaining pressure through consistent offensive plays. As both teams regroup, Dillard will aim to tighten their defensive strategies while SUNO will look to build on their winning formula.

-Bleu Devils-