NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Privateers will conclude their five-game homestand on Tuesday night when they're slated to take on the Xavier Gold Rush at Maestri Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and the game will be on ESPN+.
STARTERS
UNO-RHP
Canaan Clayton vs. XULA-RHP Zion Morris
The Privateers (7-7) are looking to bounce back after getting swept over the weekend against UTRGV. Over the weekend, New Orleans got a career-high in strikeouts from
Grant Edwards (10),
Diego Villescas returning to the lineup and
Jahlani Rogers hitting his first two homers in a Privateer uniform.
Canaan Clayton will be making his first start in a Privateer uniform. The New Orleans native made his return to the mound against Jackson State last Wednesday and pitched a scoreless inning after missing all of 2024 due to injury. Clayton has a career ERA of 3.66 and an opponent batting average of .192 in 20 appearances with the Privateers.
Seven Privateers have multiple games with two or more RBI this season.
Bryce Calloway leads the way in that category with five. Also on that list are
Collin Loupe,
Bryan Loriga,
Tristan Moore,
Collin Husser,
Alexander Saunier and
Dalton Hurst.
Eight different pitchers have been on the mound for the Privateers' 14 double plays turned this season.
Grant Edwards has seen the most double plays turned on the mound with three.
Matthew Bienvenu and
Skylar Jones have each seen two twin killings. All 14 double plays have ended an inning.
Xavier is in its fifth season back on the diamond after their program last competed in 1960 and this is the first under Xavier Paul. This will be the first meeting between the Privateers and Gold Rush. The last time New Orleans played a local NAIA opponent was when they beat Dillard 10-0 in April 2023.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
Xavier (4-13) is under the direction of Xavier Paul in his first season at the helm. Paul played in 349 MLB games and over 1,300 games across all levels of professional baseball. He was drafted by the Dodgers in the fourth round in 2003.
As a team, Xavier is hitting .194. Lawrence Steed is the leading hitter, batting at a .304 clip. The Gold Rush have 44 stolen bases as a team and have only been caught five times in 17 games. Morris will make his second appearance (first start) this season.
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