Pelicans fly past Eagles in series opener

WESTWEGO, LA – Sophomore Levi Brewster pitched a solid 7 innings in another impressive start, and Nunez Community College bunched most of its runs in a pair of 5-run frames as they defeated  Coastal Alabama North Community College 11-1 in an 11AM businessman’s special Friday at Segnette Field.

The game was called in the bottom of the eighth inning because of the 10-run rule.

The Evangel grad gave up no earned runs and 2 hits, both singles, while striking out 7 and walking just 3.  Brewster also teamed up with battery-mate Landon Manson to pick off 4 runners on the base paths.  The Dutchtown cooler nabbed 3 of 4 Eagles attempting to run on him, while also swiping 2 bases himself on offense.

Coastal scored their only run of the game in the second inning as an infield error and Brendan Zahn’s single put runners on the corners with 2 outs. Zahn then broke for second on an attempted double steal and was run down and tagged out as the Pel infield conceded the run.

Nunez then put up its first crooked number in the bottom half, scoring all 5 runs on timely 2-out hits. Manson’ lead-off single to center was followed by a walk to Payton Cooper.  Aidan Lambert then sacrificed the runners into scoring position, and after a strikeout, James Bendeck walked to load the bases.  Ashtyn Ellis then lined a single to center to plate both Manson and Cooper.  Noah Detillier followed with a hard-ground single in back of third base to reload the sacks.  Alex Crews then lifted a bases-clearing double to the wall in deep centerfield to put the Pels up 5-1.  The game then settled into a pitcher’s duel for the next 3 innings between Brewster and Coastal starter Dylan Bergeron.

The Pelicans broke away for good with 5 more in the bottom of the 7th.  Collin Zeringue led off being hit-by-pitch and Manson drew a walk.  Cooper then bunt-singled the bases full, and Lambert followed with an RBI-fielder’s choice grounder that scored Zeringue and forced Manson at third.  Davison Stokes next grounded a single through the 65 hole into left field to plate Cooper to make it 7-1.  Bendeck then dropped a fly-ball double just inside the right-field line to score Lambert, with Stokes next tagging on Ellis’ sacrifice line drive to center. The final run of the frame scored on Detillier’s line drive double down the left field line.

With the score now 10-1 and Brewster’s worksheet complete, reliever Willy Flynn pitched a scoreless top of the eighth, after which the Pels dropped the curtains on the day’s action in the bottom half as Zeringue led off again by being plunked, and Manson followed immediately with the line double into the right-center gap to plate pinch-runner Dylan Jimenez with the final run that stretched the lead to 10 after 7 innings.

Manson and Detillier each went 3-for-4 with an RBI to lead Nunez at the plate, with Cooper going 2-for-3 and Ellis and Crews each driving in 3 runs.

                       Score By innings – Fri  3/03            

                   CACCN –  010 000 00 –    1    2  0                      

                       Nunez –  050 000 51 –  11  12  2

               Game called in 8th inning, 10-run rule

                   W – Brewster.   L – D Bergeron.

            D Bergeron, Coats (6) and Steele, Sobrino (5).

                  Brewster, Flynn (8) and Manson. 

                   2B – Detillier, Crews, Bendeck,

                               Manson.   SF – Ellis

NEXT UP:

The teams will continue a busy weekend Saturday back in Chalmette with another morning first-pitch against each other, and then will each take on Jones (MS) College later in the day.

Saturday’s schedule at Suarez Stadium will be as follows:

        11 am – Coastal Alabama North at Nunez

          2 pm – Coastal Alabama North vs. Jones College

          5 pm – Jones College at Nunez

Nunez students, faculty, and staff will be admitted free to all 3 games with Nunez ID.