Privateers Surrender Four Late Runs in Loss to McNeese

BOX SCORE (XML) | BOX SCORE (PDF)

LAKE CHARLES, La. – The New Orleans Privateers baseball team (11-18, 2-8) surrendered four runs over the final three innings that made the difference in a 7-3 loss to the McNeese State Cowboys (18-12, 8-5) on Thursday at Cowboy Diamond.
 
The Privateers rallied from a 3-1 deficit to tie the game in the seventh. After a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt scored one run, Chaz Boyer tied the game with an RBI ground out. The Cowboys would break the tie in the bottom half of the frame though. After Joe Preovnzano singled and snagged two bases on an error, he was driven in by an RBI single from Andrew Guillotte.
 
McNeese opened up the lead after James Cantu reached on an infield single, but appeared to touch the ball while running up the line. Cantu was still awarded first after a discussion and three runs came across in the frame, capped off by a two-run home run from Cameron Toole.
 
New Orleans started the scoring in the third inning. After Jonathan Santana was hit by a pitch to start the frame, he was bunted over to second. Ryan Calloway singled Santana in to give the Privateers an early 1-0 lead. The Cowboys responded in the bottom half of the frame on a two-run single by Connor Crane.
 
The Cowboys added a run in the fifth after Toole led off with a walk. Guillotte later doubled in the inning, one of two hits on the night to make it a 3-1 lead. Guillotte was one of three batters with two hits on the night. Kaleb Fontenot went eight innings on the mound and struck out six batters.
 
For the Privateers, the lineup was limited to four hits on the night. Preston Marsh, Parker Jones, and Santana each scored a run. Marsh also drew two walks on the game. Daniel Martinez went five innings and struck out five batters while also allowing four walks.
 
Guillotte and Crane each wound up with two RBIs. Cantu went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Provenzano was 1-for-3 on the night with two runs and a walk. Toole wound up 1-for-2 with two RBIs and scored three runs on the game.
 
The series continues on Friday with a first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
For more information, follow the Privateers on Twitter @UNOPrivateers and @Privateers_BSB or like us on Facebook.