NATCHITOCHES, La. –
Chris Turpin moved to 3-0 and
Reeves Martin moved one save away from tying the program record as the New Orleans Privateers (11-6, 2-3) scored a 5-2 win over the Northwestern State Demons (9-7, 2-3) on Saturday at Brown-Stroud Field.
The Privateers saw their lead sliced to 3-2 in the eighth and Northwestern State had two on with no out. However,
John Barr struck out the next three batters to keep New Orleans narrowly ahead. In the top of the ninth, three consecutive singles started the frame and New Orleans tallied two insurance runs.
Martin came in and shut the door in the ninth inning for the save. He allowed a lead-off walk but got a ground ball that turned into a 4-6-3 double play. Martin then struck out pinch hitter, Austin Townsend looking to secure a split of the first two days of the series.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Privateers scratched out three runs over the first four innings despite just one hit in that span. Demons starter, Jerry Maddox was fully stretched, throwing 68 pitches in his two innings of work. He issued four walks and hit a batter in his shortest outing of the season.
Austin Reich came out of the pen as the first call and also issued three walks in his two innings of work. The Privateers got their first hit of the game on a double to right by
Gaige Howard. One batter later,
Tresten Kennard drove in a run with a sac fly to deep left. Maddox and Reich combined to throw 122 pitches over the first four frames. The Demons also made two errors in that stretch.
Turpin had a strong day with a season best eight strikeouts in his seven innings of work. The Demons got on the board in the fourth when after a Caleb Ricca, the first run came across on a Jeffrey Elkins double to right. Northwestern State had another threat an inning later, but Turpin got around it with a strikeout. Northwestern State loaded the bases with two outs and had Ricca at the plate. He got ahead in the count at 2-0, but Turpin came back to strike him out and keep the lead intact.
INSIDE THE BOX
G. Howard collected two hits including a double and drove in a run.
Collin Morrill and
Luther Woullard each scored two runs.
Pearce Howard went 1-for-3 with a run. Privateer pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts on the afternoon. Kennard and
Robert Fabelo each had an RBI. The Demons' four through nine hitters in the order went a combined 1-for-23. The only hit was an infield single by Chaney Dodge.
NEXT UP
The Privateers look to secure the series victory on Sunday at 1 p.m. Nathan Jones will start for the Demons. The Privateers' starter is yet to be announced.
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