NEW ORLEANS –
Bryan Loriga delivered the go-ahead two-run single in the seventh and clutch pitching down the stretch shut the door as the New Orleans Privateers topped the Boston College Eagles 5-4 on Friday night in their series opener at Maestri Field.
The win by the Privateers is their first over an ACC school since they defeated Virginia Tech in 2018.
The stage was set for Loriga when the first two men got on ahead of him.
Diego Villescas singled back up the middle and
Alexander Saunier followed with a double over centerfielder, Josiah Ragsdale's head put both runners in scoring position. Loriga came up and delivered after a single through the left side scored both runs.
On the bump,
Carson Kimball got the win. He came in and nearly induced an inning-ending double play but Patrick Roche just legged out the twin killing. Three batters later, Kimball retired Nick Wang on a dribbler that was picked up by
Karson Evans.
In the eighth,
Sawyer Toney worked around a situation that saw runners on second and third with one out. He struck out Gunnar Johnson and induced a fly out to center off the bat of Sam McNulty to keep the Privateers ahead.
On came
Bryce Calloway for his first appearance and save attempt of the season. Calloway allowed a one-out base runner on a hit-by-pitch, but was dominant overall as he struck out the other three batters faced to pick up the save.
Grant Edwards got the start and had to endure a 20-minute delay in the first inning because the lights went out. Edwards came back after the stoppage and got a strikeout to end the opening frame. From there, he allowed just one hit and one run through six innings. Both of his inherited runners in the seventh scored as Edwards finished the night with a no-decision. He struck out nine batters on the evening.
Alexander Saunier and
Collin Husser each had two hits on the night.
Karson Evans had an RBI single in the second inning and
Collin Loupe drove in a pair of runs. The Privateers had a 9-7 edge in the hit column.
NEXT UP
The series will close with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 12 p.m.
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