Privateers Post Two Big Innings to Pull Away From Grambling

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NEW ORLEANS, La. – The New Orleans Privateers baseball team (4-3) pulled away late, punching 15 hits and getting a solid outing from Jordan Priddle in a 12-4 win over the Grambling Tigers (2-5) on Sunday afternoon at Maestri Field at First NBC Ballpark.

The Privateers and Tigers traded two runs a side through the first three and a half innings. In the fourth, New Orleans grabbed the lead back and would never relinquish it afterward. After Jonathan Santana reached on a walk and Jay Robinson singled to right, Chaz Boyer hit a one-out fly ball to center. However, Grambling center fielder Edwin Drexler couldn't locate the ball and it dropped in for a hit, scoring Santana and making the score 3-2.

New Orleans then posted a five-run sixth inning that put the game out of reach. The Privateers had four singles in the frame and took advantage of a pair of Tigers errors in the field. Grambling had four errors in total on the contest. The Privateers also posted a four-run eighth, all against reliever, Brennan Williams.

Priddle (2-0) went five innings in his first start and gave up two runs (one earned) while walking one batter and striking out three.  "He needed that. We've been just bringing him along slowly, trying to get his pitch count up and we're going to need him," said Coach Ron Maestri.

The Privateers also got another solid day from Jonathan Coco. In his first two at-bats, Coco came up with Ryan Calloway in scoring position and drove him in both times. On the day, Coco finished with three hits and three RBIs.  "Everything even the outs, he's hitting the ball hard. That's good to see. We've got to have people pick us up every day and he did well," said Maestri.

All nine Privateers starters collected a hit and five players worked multi-hit days. Sam Carriere and Samuel Capielano each had two hits and two runs. Jay Robinson, in his second collegiate start, went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run. Kevin Kelleher was one of four pitchers to come out of the pen and he recorded two outs via a strikeout.

The Tigers were led offensively by Dee Brown who collected two hits and drove in two runs. Starter, Dion Holbrook pitched into the sixth, giving up eight runs over 5.2 innings. Only three of those runs were earned. Tray Bell and Edwin Drexler also collected two hits each.

The Privateers will next take to the field on Tuesday in the first game of the First NBC Cup against Tulane. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

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