Box Score
NEW ORLEANS, La. – The New Orleans Privateers (0-1) were close, but fell by a score of 2-0 to the No. 2 ranked LSU Tigers (1-0) at Alex Box Stadium on Friday Night in the return of skipper
Ron Maestri to the Privateers dugout.
Making his first collegiate start in front of 12,472 fans senior right-hander
Raymond Winter came out strong as he battled with Tigers ace, Aaron Nola. Scoreless until the bottom of the third, Conner Hale led off the inning with a single and was moved to third on a one-out double by Mark Laird. All-SEC shortstop Alex Bregman ripped a single to right to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead, before Winter would battle back and retire the side.
The Privateers their best chance to even the score in the fourth inning. Designated hitter
Reese Kanter roped a one-out double to the gap in right-center, and was moved over to third on a ground out by
Cameron Hoffman. With two down,
Zach Liberto hit a ball to left-center gap, before catch on the run by Laird killed the Privateer rally.
LSU chased Winter in the sixth after he gave up a double to Christian Ibarra and a bunt single to Tyler Moore. Winter (0-1) took the loss for the Privateers despite going a career-long 5.0 innings, giving up seven hits, two runs, while striking out a pair and walking one. Coach Maestri was proud of Winter's resiliency, crediting Ray's experience from last season with helping him escape a few innings with runners on base.
Making his Privateer debut, right hander
Darron McKigney was first out of the bullpen to replace Winter. After a shaky start, allowing a sacrifice fly from Kade Scivique to score Ibarra, and two straight two-out walks, Darron battled back to retire the dangerous sophomore Alex Bregman on a fly ball to right field to end the Tiger threat.
Maestri pointed out to that at-bat as a part of the Privateers' overall success on the mound. "That's what impressed me the most. We were going to pitch to Bregman and he (Darron) made a good pitch. I'm really proud of our guys. We made a couple of miscues, but I'm really proud of the effort tonight."
New Orleans was limited to just four hits on the night. Nola (1-0) took the win for LSU pitching six innings, striking out six and allowing just four hits. Joe Broussard pitched two scoreless frames, before Kurt McCune came in and retired the Privateers in order to earn the save (1) in the ninth inning, striking out a pair.
New Orleans returns to action Saturday afternoon at Zephyr Field in Metairie, as they host LSU. Taking the mound for the Privateers will be Junior right hander
Alex Smith, facing junior left hander Kyle Bouman. The game will be televised by Cox Sports Television with a video stream available online at ESPN3.com. Audio of the game will also be available free of charge on UNO Showcase. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
NOTE – Tonight's paid attendance of 12,472 was the second-largest paid attendance in the history of Alex Box Stadium.
