Privateers Surrender Late Lead in Loss to Nicholls

BOX SCORE (XML) | BOX SCORE (PDF)

THIBODAUX, La. – The New Orleans Privateers baseball team (14-34, 3-22 Southland) committed a costly late error and fell 5-3 to the Nicholls Colonels (30-16-1, 15-10) on Friday in the series opener at Didier Field.
 
Leading 3-2 in the eighth, the Privateers were looking to nab their first win against Nicholls since May 2010. However, the Colonels loaded up the bases against reliever, Seth Laigast. The Privateers went to Jarred Taylor who got a ground ball that would have tied the game. A throwing error on the play though brought in the go-ahead run to put the Colonels up 4-3. A squeeze play brought in another run for the home side.
 
The Privateers made things interesting in the ninth. A two-out single by Ryan Calloway was followed by a Sam Carriere single that extended his hitting streak to 12 games. However, Stuart Holmes came back from down 3-0 in the count to Matt Rykaczewski to record a strikeout looking to preserve the sixth straight win for Nicholls.
 
The Privateers scored first on the benefit of back-to-back errors by Tanner Vandevere in the second inning. An RBI ground out by Samuel Capielano made it 1-0. The Colonels answered back in the fourth with an RBI single by Christian Correa. The teams traded a solo run in the fifth. The Colonels got heads up base running from Justin Holt who moved from first to third on a bunt before eventually scoring to tie the game at 2-2.
 
Nicholls starter, Ryan Deemes went through 7.2 innings, but with lefty, Zane PItzer due up, Colonels coach Seth Thibodeaux went to the pen for the lefty, Holmes. The Privateers countered by pinch hitting with Cameron Hoffman who delivered a ground ball single back up the middle to push the Privateers ahead 3-2.
 
Kevin Kelleher went his longest outing of the season, pitching seven innings while allowing two runs (both earned). Kelleher struck out seven and did not issue a walk, throwing 63 of his 88 pitches for strikes. Laigast took the loss, pitching 0.1 innings and giving up an infield single while also issuing a walk and hitting a batter. Offensively, Calloway provided the only multi-hit night, going 2-for-4.
 
Holmes picked up the win for the Colonels. At the plate, Kyle Reese extended his hitting streak to 13 games while going 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI, and a run. Correa drove in two runs and went 1-for-3. Deemes threw 96 pitches and 70 went for strikes in the no decision.
 
The series continues on Saturday in New Orleans with a first pitch set for 2 p.m.
 
For more information, follow the Privateers on Twitter @UNOPrivateers and @Privateers_BSB or like us on Facebook.