SUNO holds off late Dillard surge, 11-6, after Bleu Devils’ six-run finish

NEW ORLEANS — Dillard University didn't get on the board until the sixth inning Saturday night, but the Bleu Devils made sure the final frames belonged to them, erupting for five runs in the sixth and adding another in the seventh before falling 11-6 to the SUNO Knights.

SUNO built a commanding lead early, capitalizing on a mix of timely hits, aggressive baserunning and Dillard miscues to go up 11-0 through five innings. Dillard, however, showed fight and patience late, turning the game's momentum briefly with a rally that forced the Knights to navigate a suddenly dangerous lineup.

The Knights struck first in the second inning when Dylan Jimenez launched a two-run homer to left. SUNO kept the inning moving with a Kyler Shepherd RBI single and even stole home as Peyton Strahan scored on a steal attempt, pushing the advantage to 4-0. SUNO added two more in the third on Caden Cantu's two-run single, then broke it open in the fifth with five runs—highlighted by Jimenez's RBI single, an error that brought home two, and Braylon Guerin's two-run triple.

Dillard's response came immediately once SUNO went to its bullpen in the sixth. Facing Valentin Jaquez IV, the Bleu Devils loaded the bases and cashed in with discipline and extra-base power. Mike Lewis drew a bases-loaded walk to force in a run, and Monroe Evans ripped a three-run double to center to put Dillard on the board in a big way. Tae Boze followed with an RBI single to make it a five-run inning and cut the deficit to 11-5.

Dillard tacked on another run in the seventh when Gustavo Torrealba's ground-ball single brought home Noah Riley, closing the scoring at 11-6. Torrealba was a steady presence at the plate, finishing 3-for-4, while Evans delivered the biggest swing of the night for Dillard with a double and three RBIs. Boze also drove in a run, and Lewis reached base via two walks and produced an RBI.

On the mound, SUNO starter Darrin Magee set the tone with five scoreless innings, allowing just three hits while striking out four. Dillard starter Brandon Dickerson II took the loss after four innings, and while only three of the six runs charged to him were earned, SUNO's early pressure—plus five walks issued by Dillard pitching overall—kept the Bleu Devils in a deep hole.

Even in defeat, Dillard's late rally offered a clear takeaway: the Bleu Devils stayed engaged, took advantage of a brief opening, and showed they can generate offense in bunches when they string together patient at-bats and line-drive contact. 

-Bleu Devils-