Mitchell’s gem, early homers key Privateers’ victory over Lamar

LAKE CHARLES, La. – Brandon Mitchell turned in a masterful start on the mound and the New Orleans Privateers made two early home runs hold in a 4-1 victory over the Lamar Cardinals in an eventful afternoon at Joe Miller Ballpark.

DECISIONS
Mitchell went eight strong innings with nine strikeouts and could only be stopped by a lightning delay that lasted two hours and 27 minutes. The loss went to Jacob Ellis, his fifth of the year. Jacob Mead picked up his fifth save of the season.

The Privateers had just got the lead man on in the ninth when Miguel Useche. Then play was stopped as lightning struck near the ballpark. The teams waited it out and when play resumed, Trhea Morse got the next three men in order.

Then Mead came on in the ninth inning and worked around two hits as he got the last three outs to send the Privateers to the winners’ bracket. They will play Northwestern State at 6 p.m.

New Orleans scored all their runs in the second inning. Anthony Herron Jr. shot a single through the right side. Then Jeissy De la Cruz legged out a ball that was hit to the left side for an infield hit. That set up the home runs which came next.

Jorge Tejeda cranked one to left to bring in three runs. Then Issac Williams blasted a solo homer of his own to put New Orleans ahead 4-0.

The Cardinals got a run back when Tanner Wilson drove in a run on a sac fly in the third inning. From there, Mitchell kept the Lamar bats quiet. The Privateers also turned two inning-ending double plays behind him in the fourth and fifth.

It’s the third time the Privateers have won their first game of the Southland Tournament. They also did it in 2018 and 2022.

Mitchell’s win moves him to 22 for his career, tying him with David Lynch for seventh on the program’s all-time wins list.

INSIDE THE BOX
Tejeda, who received the Steve McCarty Citizenship Award from the Southland Conference before the game, went 2-for-4. Williams, De la Cruz, Herron and Mitchell Sanford each had a hit. Kasten Furr had five assists in the field and was in on both double plays along with Tyler Bischke.

Lamar had six hits from six different players. Josh Blankenship scored the only run of the game for the Cardinals.

NEXT UP
The Privateers will play Northwestern State on Thursday at 6 p.m.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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