Privateers Rally With a Three-Run Eighth to Defeat Stephen F. Austin

BOX SCORE (PDF) | BOX SCORE (XML)

NEW ORLEANS, La. – The New Orleans Privateers baseball team (7-10, 1-3) commenced a rally in the eighth inning to score a 3-2 win over the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (5-14, 0-4) on Friday at Maestri Field at First NBC Ballpark.
 
After being blanked by Cameron Gann in the first seven innings, the Privateers started a rally with a Ryan Calloway. Following that, Samuel Capielano drove in the first run of the game with an opposite field double. After a Preston Marsh single put runners on the corners with one out, the call was made to the pen for closer, Tyler Wiedenfeld.
 
Hezekiah Randolph legged out a ground ball to avoid a double play and bring it to Sam Carriere who singled to center to bring in the tying run. The play also saw a two-base fielding error that accounted for the winning run. Darron McKigney nailed it down, retiring the Lumberjacks in order in the ninth and recording a strikeout to seal it.
 
"The name of the game is make the plays and we made the plays in the field. We had clutch hitting and pitching was good. Darron came in and did a heck of a job to close it down for us," said Privateers Head Coach Ron Maestri.
 
Capielano collected two hits and had a run and an RBI in the victory. "We've preached that and he (Capielano) knows. That's all we do in batting practice and when he does that, he'll hit for an average. Hopefully he's getting back to that," said Maestri.
 
Parker Jones went 2-for-3 and the Privateers scratched 10 hits on the board. Shawn Semple battled through issuing a season-high six walks, going six frames and striking out seven batters while having strong success against the top of the order. Stephen F. Austin's 1-through-4 hitters went 0-for-16 on the night.
 
Garrett McMullen started the scoring off with a solo home run in the second inning, his only hit of the night. Eric DeJesus drew a bases loaded walk in the fourth to account for the only other Lumberjacks run. Gann was charged with the loss, going 7.1 innings and surrendering all three runs (two earned).
 
The two teams continue the series Saturday with a first pitch set for 2 p.m.
 
For more information, follow the Privateers on Twitter @UNOPrivateers and @Privateers_BSB or like us on Facebook.