NEW ORLEANS –
Miguel Useche delivered a clutch two-run double in the eighth inning and the New Orleans Privateers (28-21) narrowly won a 5-4 decision over the Southern Jaguars (21-29) on Tuesday in the regular season finale at Maestri Field.
DECISIONS
Jacob Mead picked up his first win as a Privateer (1-1). The loss went to Mykel Page (2-3).
Cole Paplham struck out two in the ninth for his second save of the year.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Privateers loaded the bases in the eighth inning ahead of Useche's 11
th double of the season.
Pearce Howard singled through the left side to begin the frame. Then,
Jeissy De la Cruz and
Anthony Herron Jr. each drew free passes.
After a strikeout recorded by Page, it was up to Useche who came up in a pinch hit situation. He took a 1-2 pitch and lined it into left-center scoring the tying and go-ahead run.
From there, Paplham took over and struck out a pair of batters after allowing a one out free pass. He got AJ Walter to strike out swinging and then got a called third strike against Jalon Mack to preserve the win for the Privateers.
It was a game that featured four lead changes and sudden swings of momentum. Howard got the scoring started when he doubled to deep center to score
Amani Larry. It was his 50
th career double.
Tremaine Spears put the Jaguars in front for the first time with a two-run homer in the third inning. New Orleans came back with two runs of their own in the fifth.
Issac Williams scored on a throwing error and Larry drilled a home run, his seventh of the year.
Southern went back ahead in the eighth inning when Michael Latulas homered to left to give the Jaguars a 4-3 lead.
The Privateers finished the regular season 18-10 at Maestri Field.
INSIDE THE BOX
The Privateer pitching staff had 12 strikeouts including four in two innings from starter,
Collin Horton. Three pitchers (Paplham,
Dylan Cunningham and
Joshua Cerejo) struck out two in their respective innings.
The Privateers were out-hit 10-5 but they capitalized on two Jaguar errors that led to two runs. New Orleans moved to 4-0 in games that were tied after the seventh inning.
NEXT UP
The Privateers will start the Southland Tournament on Thursday when they face HBU at 1 p.m. in Hammond, La.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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@PrivateersBSB on Twitter,
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Privateers Baseball on Facebook and subscribe to the
UNOPrivateers YouTube channel.
