NATCHITOCHES, La. – The New Orleans Privateers rallied back from a 6-0 deficit to put the tying run on base in the ninth but fell just short in a 6-5 loss to the Northwestern State Demons on Sunday at Brown-Stroud Field.
Josh Hoffmann singled with one out to get the tying run aboard in the final inning of the contest. Shortly after that the Demons brought in Lucas Harrington to get the final out. After falling behind 3-0 in the count, Harrington got a called strike and a foul ball that set up a full count breaking ball that was a called third strike, which ended the game and secured the series for the Demons.
The early stages were dominated by the starters as
Riley Marcotte and Trent Hillen battled through five scoreless innings. After a lead-off double by Ethan Menard in the sixth, the Demons posted six runs in the inning.
Three consecutive walks led to the first run of the game and the Demons added on from there. Sebastian Huerta drove in two runs on a single and Zach White had an Rbi double. The Demons also got a sac fly from Sam Ardoin and an RBI base hit from Brooks Leonard.
New Orleans battled right back against Hillen though as they sent all nine men to the plate in the seventh.
Owen Smith and
Kruise Newman had back-to-back RBI singles with no outs to get the Privateers on the board.
Hoffmann delivered an infield single that brought in the third run and
Kareh Valentin followed with a sac fly that closed the gap to 6-4. The Privateers got closer in the eighth when Newman ripped a double down the right field line against Wesley Marien, but the Privateers were denied in what was the sixth one-run game in the last eight meetings between the two teams.
Hillen went 6.1 innings and struck out six while allowing four runs in the win. Leonard had the only multi-hit game for the Demons as he went 2-for-4.
INSIDE THE BOX
Marcotte went a season-long 5.1 innings and allowed just one run on three hits while recording five strikeouts. Newman and Hoffmann each had two hits.
Owen Smith scored two runs and
Luke Hymel pitched 2.2 scoreless innings of relief.
NEXT UP
The Privateers face Jackson State on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
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