NATCHITOCHES, La. – The New Orleans Privateers (10-6, 1-3) grabbed the lead at two different points of the game but gave up the winning run in the eighth of a 4-3 loss to the Northwestern State Demons (9-6, 2-2) on Friday night at Brown-Stroud Field.
The Demons loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth off two singles and a walk.
Reeves Martin came in and struck out Hayden Brown for the first out. Chaney Dodge then hit a ground ball that the Privateers could not turn into a double play, which pushed across the winning run.
In the ninth, Ridge Heisler finished what he started by facing the minimum three batters. He recorded his seventh strikeout of the game to move to 2-1 on the year. Of the three runs he surrendered, only one was earned.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Privateers got an early jolt from
Collin Morrill who took the third pitch of the game over the fence for a lead-off homer. The Demons quickly answered in their half of the first with a two-out, two-strike RBI off the bat of Peyton Davis. Northwestern State gained their first lead when Caleb Ricca blasted a solo homer in the third.
Heisler settled in during the middle frames to retire nine straight batters. However, the Privateer bats rattled Heisler in the sixth.
Pearce Howard reached on an error and
Luther Woullard followed with a line drive double to put runners on second and third.
Gaige Howard then drove a ball deep enough into left to tie the game at 2-2. The Privateers regained the lead on an RBI single from
Tresten Kennard.
That advantage was also short lived as Austin Stegall came up and hit the second Demons home run of the night: a solo shot to left-center with one out in the sixth. The game held level from there until the deciding run came across two frames later. New Orleans is now 5-2 on the season in one-run games.
INSIDE THE BOX
Morrill's lead-off homer was the first homer to lead off a game by a Privateer since May 2008 (Ryan Eden).
Brandon Mitchell wound up with a no-decision after going seven innings with three runs allowed on six hits. Mitchell struck out five Demon batters.
Mathew Oset (2-1) was tagged with the loss. Kennard collected two hits and an RBI.
NEXT UP
The series continues Saturday in Natchitoches with a 2 p.m. first pitch.
Chris Turpin will start for the Privateers and Jerry Maddox will get the ball for Northwestern State.
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