HAMMOND, La. – It was a record day for
Darren Willis as the New Orleans Privateers pulled away with two big innings to a 14-1 victory in seven over the Northwestern State Demons. The Privateers will play again tomorrow at noon in another elimination game.
TAKE IT TO THE DELI
Willis hit two grand slams and holds the new record for most RBI in a Southland Tournament game with eight. His first was in the fourth inning against reliever, Cameron Taylor. He got ahead 2-0 in the count and took the next pitch off the back wall in right field to extend the Privateer lead to 5-0.
Three innings later, lightning struck twice for the senior. Willis crushed a first pitch from Donovan Ohnoutka to place himself in the Southland record book with eight RBI on the day. He also landed one short of tying the program record for most RBI in a game.
In his return,
Travis Gober also got in on the party with a third grand slam. He took a pitch off Peyton Graham and hit a towering shot to deep right in his first game since Apr. 30. From there,
Collin Kulivan retired the side in order to close out the contest.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Brandon Mitchell got the start and battled through traffic on the basepaths early. He faced a baserunner in every inning and multiple baserunners in three of the four frames but made big pitches when needed. In the third, facing a 3-1 count with runners on the corners, he came back to strike out Jake Haze and got Larson Fontenot to ground out, which got the Privateers out of the frame unscathed with a 1-0 lead.
The run got home without the benefit of a hit.
Kasten Furr drew a walk in four pitches and stole second. With two outs, Demons starter, Levi David got a strikeout but a wild pitch and ensuing error allowed Furr to score the first run of the game.
NOTABLES
Gaige Howard had two hits with one being a double, two walks and an RBI.
Haden Erbe threw two shutout innings of relief. Furr walked three times and scored twice.
Beau Bratton,
Pearce Howard and
Blake Way each added a hit in the contest.
NEXT UP
The Privateers will play either Southeastern or McNeese in another elimination game at 12 p.m. on Friday.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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@PrivateersBSB on Twitter,
@PrivateersBSB on Instagram, like
Privateers Baseball on Facebook and subscribe to the
UNOPrivateers YouTube channel.
