Privateers Deliver Clutch Hits Early to Sink Loyola

BOX SCORE (XML) | BOX SCORE (PDF)

NEW ORLEANS, La. – The New Orleans Privateers baseball team (11-17, 2-7 Southland) got some key two-out hits as part of an 8-2 victory over the Loyola Wolfpack (19-21, 6-15 SSAC) on Tuesday night at Maestri Field at First NBC Ballpark.
 
The Wolfpack jumped ahead, scoring a run in the top of the first after the top two batters reached on a walk. Luis Anguizola drove in a run on an RBI fielder's choice to give the Wolfpack what would be their only lead of the night.
 
New Orleans got an infield single from Ryan Calloway to start the bottom of the first. After Calloway stole second and was moved to third on the fly out, Calloway scored on one of six errors on the evening. Sam Carriere followed with a triple, his first of the season to put New Orleans ahead 2-1 after the opening frame.
 
New Orleans opened up a little more in the third, scoring two more runs in the third. After the first two runners reached on a walk and an error respectively, the Privateers pulled off a double steal. Matt Rykaczewski followed with an RBI ground out, then Preston Marsh delivered an RBI sac fly to make the score 4-1. "We had some big hits and plugged the gap with some extra base hits tonight, but we only got seven for the game. We're going to need more than that, but it's a good win," said Coach Ron Maestri.
 
New Orleans delivered their final scoring punch in the fifth. A two-run double by Rykaczewski finished off a three-RBI night. Parker Jones singled up the middle to bring in another run and Chaz Boyer tripled to deep center to push the final of four runs across in the frame. Three of those four runs were driven in with two outs. The Wolfpack delivered back-to-back doubles in the seventh, which accounted for their second and final run.
 
Rykaczewski went 1-for-4 with three RBIs and a run. Carriere was 2-for-3 and scored twice while racking up his first stolen base of the year. Randolph was walked twice, hit by a pitch, and scored three runs. Darron McKigney (2-0) settled down after a shaky outing and allowed one hit in three innings. Five Privateers pitchers combined to allow just five hits on the night.
 
For Loyola, Andrew Fournet scored a run and made two diving catches in center. Anguizola was 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI. The final three Wolfpack pitchers kept the Privateers out of the hit column for the last three frames.
 
New Orleans will travel to McNeese State to take on the Cowboys. First pitch for the series opener is on Thursday at 6 p.m.

For more information, follow the Privateers on Twitter @UNOPrivateers and @Privateers_BSB or like us on Facebook.