Houston, Texas - The New Orleans Privateers (20-28, 9-14) opened up late and got a strong performance from Brayson Smith to win the front end of a doubleheader 8-1 against the Houston Baptist Huskies (22-25, 14-9). HBU took the second game 5-2 at Husky Field on Friday.
GAME 1: NEW ORLEANS-8 HOUSTON BAPTIST-1
Smith (2-3) engineered his longest outing of the season, going 6.1 innings. After the Huskies struck for a run in the first, Smith put the clamps down on the HBU lineup, allowing just three hits in the rest of his tenure on the hill.
The Privateers surged in front in the third inning. An RBI triple from Collin Morrill scored Darren Willis to tie the game. Owen Magee drove Morrill in on an RBI ground-out to make it 2-1 New Orleans. The Privateers added a run in the sixth on an RBI single from Devin Morrill.
New Orleans delivered the knockout blow in the seventh inning by plating five runs. The line got started on an RBI single by Orynn Veillon. The train kept moving when Beau Bratton drove in two on a double into the gap. Jay Robinson added his second hit of the game on an RBI triple and Scott Crabtree followed with an RBI sac fly.
John Barr closed the proceedings by going the final 2.2 innings. Barr inherited two runners and issued a two-out walk to load the bases. He then got Jonathan Ducoff to fly out and set sail the rest of the way. Barr retired all six batters to polish off the win for New Orleans.
The Privateers out-hit HBU 12-5 in the opener. The five hits allowed are tied for the third fewest allowed in a game by Privateer pitching this season. For HBU, Zach Carter (3-4) allowed six runs (five earned) in 6.1 innings. The lone run scored on a double play ball induced off the bat of Spencer Halloran in the first. Halloran and Matt Heck each stole a base.
GAME 2: HOUSTON BAPTIST-5 NEW ORLEANS-2
After New Orleans rallied from an early deficit to tie the game, HBU delivered the decisive blow in the bottom of the sixth. Two batters after a lead-off single, Grant Buck doubled to deep right to put the Huskies ahead. A one-out error signaled the last batter Kyle Arjona faced.
HBU tacked on to their lead when Jack Fitzgerald hit an RBI single into left. Two batters later, Tyler Depreta-Johnson drove in a run with a sac fly. Depreta-Johnson also added two hits in three at-bats.
Matthew McCollough (7-2) went the distance for his third complete game of the season and racked up 11 strikeouts in the process. McCollough threw 127 pitches in his outing and moved into a tie for first in the Southland in wins.
The Huskies got on the board first on a two-run, two-out home run by Jonathan Ducoff. It was his seventh of the year and gave HBU a 2-0 lead at the time.
New Orleans thundered back in the sixth to tie the game. C. Morrill led off the frame with a double. Three batters later, Veillon cranked a two-run blast to deep left-center that tied the game. Bratton tripled to keep the frame going, but McCollough came back to get a strikeout on the next batter and end the frame.
NEXT UP:
The series is scheduled to close on Saturday at 1 p.m. Bryan Warzek will start for the Privateers and Brady Batten will throw for HBU.
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