Privateers complete weekend road sweep of defending Southland champion Colonels

THIBODAUX, La. – The New Orleans Privateers collected 15 hits while Caleb Seroski and Nathan Blasick combined for five scoreless innings to close out an 8-5 victory over the Nicholls Colonels on Sunday at Didier Field.

With the win, the Privateers secured their first series sweep against Nicholls since 2018.

New Orleans found themselves trailing 4-1 after the third inning but the bats were rolling early as the Privateers erased the deficit in their half of the fourth. After a bunt single by Dylan Mach and a base hit by Collin Loupe, Issac Williams came to the plate and delivered a two-run double. Later in the inning, Mitchell Sanford slapped a pitch down the left field line that tied the game.

The Colonels went back ahead briefly on a Jaden Collura homer in the bottom of the fourth. However, that lead was short-lived.

New Orleans came back with three runs in the fifth inning to take the lead for good. The score was tied on an RBI single by Loupe off of Arturo Rodriguez. Later in the frame, Loupe scored to give the Privateers the lead as he got in ahead of a tag on a wild pitch. The Privateers added one more run in the inning on a sac fly by Sanford.

From there, Seroski took over. He threw three shutout innings for his third win of the season and allowed just one baserunner. Seroski got all his outs on ground balls including a double play in the seventh.

Blasick took the ball for the last six outs and struck out three batters. The last two strikeouts came with bats on the shoulders of Cade Crosby and Collura. It was the second save of the weekend and the season for Blasick.

The win secured a sweep over the defending champions. It was the first time a defending champion was swept in the opening series the next season since 2007 (UT-Arlington).

INSIDE THE BOX
Sanford was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI on the day. Mach, Loupe and Diego Villescas each had two hits and two runs. Victor Castillo finished 2-for-6 with a run scored. Williams was 1-for-3 and drove in a pair of runs.

The six hits the Colonels got were spread among six players. Alvarez was 1-for-4 with two RBI. Five Colonel pitchers took the mound on the game.

NEXT UP
The Privateers will face Southern at Maestri Field on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

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