NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Salo Iza collected three hits including a double, but the New Orleans Privateers baseball team (28-27, 12-17) fell on the short side of a 5-4 decision against the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (24-30, 16-13) on Friday at Jaycees Field.
The Privateers loaded the bases with one out in the eighth inning, trailing by a run. However, after Tyler Starks got the force at home, Jesus Gamez recorded a strikeout to get around the threat. Gamez retired the side in order in the ninth to preserve the save.
The loss officially eliminated New Orleans from contention for the Southland Conference tournament.
WIN-LOSS
Trayson Kubo (3-3) picked up the win. He gave up four runs on eight hits in six innings. Chris Turpin (5-5) took the loss. He worked 5.1 innings and allowed seven hits and five runs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Privateers jumped on the board first. A lead-off single by Collin Morrill was followed by a base hit that advanced him to third. Kubo induced a double play ball, but Morrill scored on the twin killing to put the Privateers up 1-0 after their half of the first.
The Jacks tied the score at 1-1 in the third. After Turpin retired the first six batters, Jordan Monacy came up and hit a solo home run to right, his second of the year to put Stephen F. Austin on the board.
New Orleans jumped back on top in the fifth inning. The first three batters got aboard as Kubo issued two walks and gave up a base hit to Iza. Back-to-back RBI ground outs off the bat of Beau Bratton and Darren Willis moved the road side ahead 3-1.
Stephen F. Austin trailed 4-1 entering the sixth but used a four-run surge to grab the lead back. The rally started on an opposite field double by Carson Clowers. Two-run singles by Antonio Lima and Jake Georgiades followed to put the Lumberjacks ahead 5-4.
INSIDE THE BOX
Pearce Howard extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a single. John Barr worked 1.2 scoreless frames in relief. Reeves Martin struck out two batters in his inning of relief. Iza was 3-for-4 on the night with a double.
NEXT UP
The regular season concludes with a 12 p.m. scheduled first pitch on Saturday. The Privateers' starter is yet to be announced. Jacob Stobart is scheduled to start for the Lumberjacks.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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