New Orleans Scratches out 10-inning win over Stephen F. Austin
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SUGAR LAND, Texas – New Orleans squeaked out a 4-3, 10-inning victory over Stephen F. Austin in an elimination game Thursday morning. It was the first of four contests Thursday in the Southland Conference Baseball Tournament at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas.
The Privateers’ first lead was a manufactured run that came after Hezekiah Randolph reached first on a dropped fly ball. Randolph advanced to second on a Tristan Clark single to left field. Darren Willis then delivered the game-winner with two outs on a seeing-eye single to the right side. Randolph raced home just in front of the throw and tag for a 4 to 3 advantage.
That was not the end of the drama, however. In the bottom of the 10th, the Lumberjacks mounted a rally initiated by an Alex Hrinevich single to left field, and then was moved over on a Gavin Gregory groundout to first base.
Pinch runner Chad Dunlop tried to come home on a Josh Campbell infield single up the middle. The throw from New Orleans’ shortstop Aaron Palmer allowed catcher Josh Campbell to apply the tag. The loss ends Stephen F. Austin’s championship hopes.
“We started off a little slow offensively,” said New Orleans’ head coach Blake Dean. “Then, we finally got a big home run that kind of got us going. We kept it close, and then we got some leadoff guys on and found a way to scratch out a run.”
Stephen F. Austin opened the scoring in the bottom of the fourth when Alex Hrinevich scored from second base on a New Orleans throwing error after fielding Jarrod Huber’s bunt. The next hitter, Eric DeJesus, hit a sacrifice fly to center field, plating Andrew Cole and making it 2 to 0. Two batters later, Nick Ramos stroked a single to left field, pushing Huber across and making the Lumberjacks’ lead to 3 to 0.
New Orleans closed the gap to one run in the top of the sixth inning thanks to Randolph’s two-run home run to center field. Samuel Capielano, who singled earlier in the inning, came around to score on the homer.
Lumberjacks’ head coach Johnny Cardenas pulled starting pitcher Patrick Ledet after surrendering the home run. Ledet finished with a final line of 5 2/3 innings pitched, two earned runs on six hits to go with four strikeouts and two walks.
The Privateers tied it at three in the seventh on Sam Capielano’s RBI single bringing around Orynn Veillon, who singled and stole second to set up the run-scoring play.
Randolph finished with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Capielano led the New Orleans’ 12-hit attack with three base knocks and a run scored.
New Orleans’ starting pitcher Bryan Warzek gave up just one earned run – three runs total – in eight innings of work. The left-hander gave up 12 hits along with two walks. He had seven strikeouts.
Privateers’ relief pitcher Hunter Medine tossed two scoreless innings to close the game and earn the win.
New Orleans will play again Friday morning at 9 a.m., facing the losing team in this afternoon’s Southeastern Louisiana – Sam Houston State matchup.
Every game of the Southland Conference Baseball Tournament will be carried live on ESPN3. Southland assistant commissioner Chris Mycoskie will handle play-by-play duties, while several Southland teams’ radio announcers will also showcased in the ESPN3 booth during the early rounds. For the title game, Mycoskie will be matched with color analyst Greg Swindell, a former first-team All-American at the University of Texas and 17-year Major Leaguer.