NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Privateers (6-4) pulled away with a four-run eighth inning to an 8-3 victory over the UConn Huskies (3-4) on Friday night at Maestri Field in the first game of the Allstate Sugar Bowl Baseball Classic.
What was a battle of pitchers early became a late offensive surge as the Privateers scored seven of their runs after the fifth inning.
CREATING DISTANCE
New Orleans batted around in the eighth inning and took advantage of an early walk and hit by pitch. The bases were loaded with no outs, but Kenneth Haus got the next two batters. However,
Luther Woullard started the line home with an infield single.
An error on Todd Petersen brought home another run.
Tresten Kennard was hit by a pitch which brought home the third run and
Kasten Furr followed with a bases loaded walk.
Brett Jones came out for the ninth inning and slammed the door shut as he notched two strikeouts and threw 11 of his 14 pitches for strikes.
THE BUILD UP
The Privateers got on the board when Woullard parked his first home run of the year in the second inning. The Privateers ran up UConn starter, Joe Simeone's pitch count early and got him out after 4.1 innings.
The Huskies tied the game at 1-1 on an RBI groundout by Chris Winkel. New Orleans came roaring back in the bottom of the frame for three runs though. Two of those came home on a two-run single by
Darren Willis.
Chris Turpin threw 6.2 innings and struck out seven batters on the night. The Huskies plated two in the seventh on a single from Winkel, but the inning ended a batter later on a strikeout looking recorded by
Collin Kulivan.
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Woullard went 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs. Willis went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run.
Beau Bratton finished with a two-hit night including a double. Kennard was 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run.
Jamarian Crain walked twice, stole a base, and scored a run.
NEXT UP
The series continues on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Eric Orze will start for the Privateers.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow
@Privateers_BSB on Twitter,
@Privateers_BSB on Instagram, like
/PrivateerBSB on Facebook and subscribe to the
PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.
