Box Score
NEW ORLEANS, La. – The New Orleans Privateers baseball team (8-17, 1-8) suffered their third one-run loss in the weekend, falling 3-2 to the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders (15-15, 6-3) in 10 innings on Sunday at Maestri Field at First NBC Ballpark.
The Islanders got a lead-off double from pinch hitter Frankie Salas to start the frame. Zack Gibson was sent in to pinch run and moved to third on an error from a pick-off attempt by
Darron McKigney. With one out and runners on the corners, Cody Stephens laid down a bunt and Gibson was able to score on a fielder's choice.
Kaleb Keith retired the Privateers side in the bottom of the 10th to seal the win. After
Samuel Capielano had a two-out single to keep the frame alive, Keith got a soft line out from
Mitchell Alexander to end the game. The Privateers however missed an opportunity in the ninth to take the win. "That kid throws hard. We hit a couple of balls good but it's not good enough. We lose two games in 10 innings by one run. We've just got to improve on that," said Head Coach
Ron Maestri.
After
Reese Kanter drew a four-pitch walk,
Dane Landry was sent in as a pinch runner. Landry was picked off of first, which proved vital.
Hezekiah Randolph singled and
Jonathan Coco reached on an error. Both runners were moved up on a ground out, but Keith recorded a strikeout to end the frame.
"We're tied and we get the guy on and we put a pinch runner in. Don't get picked off and he gets picked off. We told the hitters get up on the plate and they're throwing inside, just take one for the team and they jump out of the way and you just can't do that. We play well, but we just didn't get it done" said Maestri.
The Privateers struck first in the second inning off of starter Devin Skapura. Back-to-back one out singles by
Nick Morgan and
Jonathan Santana put runners on the corners.
Zach Liberto drove in the first run on an RBI ground out to make it 1-0 in favor of the Privateers. In the third, Kanter struck for a solo home run on the first pitch to push the early advantage to 2-0 after three innings.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi tied the game at 2-2 in the fifth. Starter
Hunter Medine allowed a single to Brandon Tierney and was pulled with two outs. McKigney came in and allowed a walk to load the bases. Cody Stephens hit a soft single to right to drive in two and tie the game.
McKigney (0-5) took the loss while pitching 5.1 innings out of the pen and allowing an unearned run. Keith picked up the win, his second of the season. Both of his wins came on the weekend after he took the decision in the series opener on Saturday.
For the Privateers, Capielano had three hits while extending his hitting streak to 10 games. Capielano recorded eight hits on the weekend. Kanter's home run was his second of the season and the sixth long ball for the Privateers. New Orleans was outhit 9-8 on the afternoon.
Kyle Danford drew three walks for the Islanders. Stephens drove in all three runs on the game. Jacob Dorris pitched 3.2 shutout innings as the first reliever out of the pen. Dorris struck out four batters and allowed just one hit.
New Orleans will close their six-game home stand on Tuesday against Southern Miss. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.
