Box Score
TROY, Ala. – The New Orleans Privateers baseball team (4-8) struggled at the plate, and could not complete a ninth inning rally in a 3-1 loss to the Troy Trojans (8-7) at Riddle-Pace Field on Saturday afternoon.
New Orleans entered the final frame trailing 3-0 when
Morgan Barger led off with a pinch hit single, and was run for by
Michael Cusimano. The next two batters were retired, but with two outs,
Chaz Boyer dropped a single into left field that scored Cusimano to punch the first run across for the Privateers.
With two out,
Samuel Capielano struck out on a pitch that went through to the backstop. Capielano reached first on the wild pitch, and
Mitchell Alexander came through with a pinch hit single to left to load the bases.
Hezekiah Randolph struck out looking on a 2-2 breaking ball to end the contest.
The game was scoreless into the sixth as both starters began the game on a high note. Troy struck for two runs off of Privateers starter
Darron McKigney. After Trojans first baseman Matthew Howard singled with one out, he moved to second on a wild pitch. Nick Masonia then provided a double to push the first run across. After allowing a walk to the next batter, McKigney was pulled.
Reliever
Mitchell Cohen came in and after an error on a ground ball loaded the bases, Cohen issued a walk to push the Trojans advantage to 2-0. Troy would add their final run in the seventh after Trevin Hall singled and stole two bases before being driven home by a sacrifice fly. Troy starter Shane McCain picked up his third win of the season while tossing seven shutout innings and recording eight strikeouts.
The Privateers collected seven hits, which were spread evenly among seven different batters. New Orleans stranded 11 runners on base, and struck out 12 times. Through two games in the series, Privateers hitters have struck out 26 times against Trojans pitching.
The rubber match will take place on Sunday with a first pitch slated for 1 p.m.
Nick Halliday takes the ball for the Privateers.
