NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Privateers got a strong start from
Grant Edwards and early run support to take the first game of a Saturday doubleheader 6-1 over the Memphis Tigers. The second game featured a big comeback by the Privateers but it fell just short as Memphis took the second game 12-10 on Saturday at Maestri Field.
GAME ONE
NEW ORLEANS-6 MEMPHIS-1
Edwards was in command early as he turned in the longest start by a Privateer this season, pitching into the seventh. He walked just one batter and surrendered five hits to the Tigers. The only run came on a third inning RBI single by Austin Baskin.
Meanwhile, New Orleans spent the early innings building up a lead.
Mitchell Sanford got on in the first inning with a first pitch single. After he got to third on another single, Sanford made a break for home and slid in safely for the first run.
It was the first steal of home by a Privateer (non-double steal) since T.J. Baxter did it in 2008.
The Privateers added two more runs to their lead in the second inning. After the first two men got on base,
Collin Loupe delivered a two-run single to center field to push the Privateer lead to 3-0.
After Edwards exited,
Ryan Delorbe took over on the mound and finished the game with a flourish. He kept the Tigers scoreless over the last 2.1 innings and struck out two.
Diego Villescas closed the scoring for game one when he drilled his first homer as a Privateer, a solo shot in the eighth inning.
GAME TWO
MEMPHIS-12 NEW ORLEANS-10
The Privateers rallied from down six runs and tied the game twice but the Tigers went ahead for good with a two-run single in the ninth inning.
The Tigers drew three consecutive two-out walks in the final frame off
Bryce Calloway. That set the stage for Shane Cox who dropped a single in front of a diving
Victor Castillo in shallow left field. From there, Brayden Sanders worked around two walks as a pickoff generated the first out. He recorded a strikeout to end the marathon game and notch his fifth save of the season.
New Orleans fell behind 6-0 early in the game but got on the scoreboard in the fourth inning due to a pair of bases loaded walks drawn by
Sean Sparling and Villescas. New Orleans kept chipping away until a four-run explosion in the sixth tied the score.
Castillo had his second triple of the night as he hit one off of Seth Garner. Then Sanford followed with a two-run homer to right field that leveled the score at 7-7.
The Tigers surged back ahead in the seventh on a Brennan DuBose single and added two more runs to their lead in the eighth to make it 10-7.
However, the Privateers came back again. Castillo fouled off five straight 0-2 pitches before delivering an RBI single through the left side of the infield. Sanford followed again with a two-run homer to right-center that tied the game at 10-10.
Castillo's two-triple game was the first by a Privateer since 2017 and the 13
th in program history.
The Privateers drew double-digit walks for a third time this season.
Kylan Stepter got the win for Memphis despite giving up his first earned runs of the season (three total in 2.1 innings). Pierre Seals was 4-for-6 with three runs scored. Seth Cox had three hits including a homer and three RBI.
NEXT UP
The Privateers will host Jackson State on Wednesday, Mar. 20 at 6:30 p.m.
WE ARE YOUR KREWE
For 54 seasons, Privateer student-athletes have had the unique experience of wearing New Orleans across their chests. Like the city itself, our sports teams have been fueled by resiliency, grit, and the unquenchable desire to win. Our city also houses the nation's biggest celebration each year. And much like a Mardi Gras parade krewe, we are tethered to our community through pride, tradition, a culture of acceptance, and finally our commitment to show that New Orleans is a world-class city to live, learn, play and work. We invite you to become more involved with the only University that truly represents New Orleans all day, every day. Join #NOLAsTeam, We Are Your Krewe!
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