Privateers Issue Four Walks in Three-Run Sixth, Fall to Stephen F. Austin

NEW ORLEANS, La. – The New Orleans Privateers baseball team (7-11, 1-4) battled an inning of control issues that made the difference in a 3-0 loss to the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (6-14, 1-4) on Saturday at Maestri Field at First NBC Ballpark.
 
With the game scoreless in the sixth, the Lumberjacks got all three runs in one inning without the benefit of a hit. A lead-off hit batter followed by back-to-back one-out walks loaded the bases. A ground ball by Kyle Thornell off of Seth Laigast could not be turned for a double play which accounted for the first run and continued the inning.
 
After a walk re-loaded the bases, Laigast walked Tyler Boxwell to make the score 2-0. A wild pitch brought in the third and final run of the afternoon. In total, the Privateers walked four batters, hit another, and had a wild pitch. "I don't know why all of a sudden we don't throw strikes. We have to shore that up and hit the ball," said Coach Ron Maestri.
 
The Privateers got two runners on with two outs in the ninth. Ryan Calloway was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame and Sam Carriere took a pitch the opposite way for a single, but Lumberjacks starter, Dillon Mangham recorded a strikeout to end the game and preserve a complete game four-hit shutout.
New Orleans was retired in order in six consecutive innings from the third through the eighth.
 
New Orleans had a chance to crack the scoreboard in the fourth as Carriere got to third with one out. However, the Lumberjacks recorded a 9-2 double play as Brandon Smith threw out Carriere trying to tag on a fly ball to right.
 
The two teams will meet to decide the series on Sunday with a first pitch set for 1 p.m.
 
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