Late grand slam turns back Privateers at South Alabama

MOBILE, Ala. – The New Orleans Privateers rallied to tie the game in the eighth but were defeated on a grand slam in the bottom of the frame as they lost 10-7 to the South Alabama Jaguars on Tuesday at Stanky Field.

DECISIONS
Despite not being able to pick up his third save of the season, Grant Wood got the win to move to 2-0 on the season. Beau Blanchard took his first decision as he was on the hook for the loss.

The Privateers entered the eighth inning trailing 6-3 but Connor Macip pitched out of big spots in his two innings to keep New Orleans in the game. The rally was set on a walk and an 0-2 single by Jeissy De la Cruz.

From there, Mitchell Sanford, Anthony Herron Jr. and Noah Bailey all had run scoring singles as the Privateers clawed back to level the score at 6-6.

Blanchard came on in the eighth and got the first batter he faced on the first pitch. However, the Jaguars turned momentum in their favor. Two singles and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with one out. That’s when Austin Thrasher delivered his third hit of the night, a grand slam to left.

The Privateers got a run back in the ninth when Kasten Furr scored on a wild pitch but they could draw no closer as the Jaguars won their fifth straight against New Orleans and snapped the Privateers’ winning streak at six games.

Macip stranded a lead-off double at third in the sixth inning and came back to get out of a bases loaded one-out jam in the seventh.

INSIDE THE BOX
Miguel Useche had two hits including a solo homer, his second of the season which started the scoring in the first inning. Furr, De la Cruz, Sanford and Herron all had two hits. Colton Mercer started and struck out six batters in 3.2 innings.

Will Turner went 3-for-6 with three RBI for South Alabama. Thrasher was 3-for-4 with the game-winning grand slam. Erick Orbeta finished 2-for-3 with two runs and three walks.

NEXT UP
The Privateers face Southern on Wednesday at Maestri Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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