Islanders Score Two Runs in Ninth to Top Privateers on Friday

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NEW ORLEANS, La. – The New Orleans Privateers baseball team (11-25, 2-14 Southland) gave up two runs in the ninth inning and fell 3-1 to the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders (18-15, 8-8) on Friday night at Maestri Field at First NBC Ballpark.
 
In a tie game entering the ninth, Brandon Guilford drew a walk to lead off the frame. After advancing to second on a wild pitch and then to third on a deep fly out, the infield was drawn in with one away. Casey Thomas hit a single up the middle to score the go-ahead run. Three batters later, Zacarias Hardy just snuck a liner over Sam Carriere into left center, scoring another run and making it 3-1.
 
Jacob Dorris then entered to try to nail down the game. Facing the 6-7-8 hitters, Dorris struck out the side. The final pitch was a strikeout looking to preserve Dorris' sixth save of the year and give the win to Matt Danton who went eight innings and struck out six batters.
 
The Privateers struck first, scoring a run in the sixth. A liner for a single by Jonathan Coco was followed by two consecutive infield hits. Hezekiah Randolph grounded one to second and the Islanders tried to turn a double play, but Randolph beat the turn as Coco scored.
 
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi quickly tied it back up in the seventh. A lead-off triple by Brett Burner off of Privateers starter, Alex Smith was followed by an RBI single off the bat of Lukas Hermanson. With one out and runners on second and third, Seth Laigast was called on out of the pen and got the Privateers out of the jam still tied with a fielder's choice and a strikeout.
 
"In key situations you can't walk people and have a passed ball. We've been playing good baseball in the field. Our pitching today was good enough to win, but you can't walk seven people particularly at the end of the game," said Coach Ron Maestri.
 
Preston Marsh led the team in hits with three in four at-bats. Ryan Calloway worked a 2-for-4 night. All eight of the Privateers hits were singles. Smith went 6.1 innings, scattering seven hits and striking out four batters. Kevin Kelleher took the loss for the Privateers whose six through nine hitters were limited to one hit in 15 at-bats.
 
The Islanders were led by Thomas who was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run. Seven other players each collected a hit and the Islanders had three extra base hits. Danton threw 95 pitches in his eight innings of work and picked up his third win of the season.
 
The two teams are scheduled to continue the series at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
 
Tickets can be purchased online for the May 12^th meeting with LSU in New Orleans at UNOPrivateers.com, over the phone at (504) 280-GAME or in person at the ticket office located at 2000 Lakeshore Dr., New Orleans, La. 70148.

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