Privateers Fall in Both Games of Saturday Doubleheader

GAME 1: BOX SCORE (XML) | BOX SCORE (PDF)
GAME 2: BOX SCORE (XML) | BOX SCORE (PDF)

CONWAY, Ark. – The New Orleans Privateers baseball team (13-28, 3-17 Southland) managed just one run over 18 innings as they fell in both ends of a doubleheader by scores of 8-0 and 6-1 to the Central Arkansas Bears (22-15, 12-8) on Saturday at Bear Stadium.
 
The Privateers wrestled an early lead in the second game as they scored in the top of the first. Ryan Calloway reached on an error and got to second with two outs. The Preston Marsh delivered an RBI single to make it 1-0. That lead was short lived as Central Arkansas would strike back for two runs in the bottom of the frame.
 
After two walks to the first three batters and two stolen bases, there were runners on second and third with one out. With the infield drawn in, Charles Deckard singled up the middle to drive in both runs and put the Bears on top 2-1.
 
New Orleans had a couple of opportunities to level the score, but stranded two runners in the second inning after getting runners to the corners with one away. A similar threat went without a run crossing in the fifth. With one out and runners at the corners, a ground ball off the bat of Jonathan Coco turned into a 4-6-3 double play.
 
The Bears were able to open up the game starting in the sixth. Logan Preston hit a home run to left field to make the score 3-1. In the seventh, the Bears added three more runs with the biggest hit, a two-run double by Brad Dillenberger.
 
The front end of the doubleheader saw the Privateers give up four runs in the first inning, all with two outs. After two fly outs recorded by Alex Smith, the Bears strung five consecutive hits together. The scoring was capped off by a two-run triple down the line from Preston.
 
New Orleans had a shot to chip into the lead in the fourth, loading the bases with one away. However, a pair of ground outs kept the Privateers off the board. Central Arkansas added two runs each in the fifth and sixth inning to finish off the scoring. Connor Gilmore threw a complete game shutout in the win and Brandon Hagerla also went the distance while allowing no earned runs.  Neither starter issued a walk on the day.
 
Matt Rykaczewski collected three hits between both games, going 2-for-4 in Game 1 and racking up a pinch hit single in the second game. Marsh went 2-for-4 with an RBI in the nightcap. Kevin Kelleher started the second game and had his longest outing of the season, going 5.0 innings and allowing two runs on three hits while striking out five batters.
 
The Bears collected 21 hits between both games. Tyler Langley and Matt Anderson each had three hits in the first game. Anderson also scored four runs. The Bears stole three bases in the second game with two coming from Langley. The Bears had five extra base hits between both contests.
 
The series concludes on Sunday with a first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
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