Privateers defeat Islanders 6-5 in 11 innings to complete sweep

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A combination of timely hitting and an outstanding showing by the bullpen allowed the University of New Orleans (13-15, 5-7 Southland) to erase a three-run deficit and defeat Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (16-13, 2-7 Southland) 6-5 in 11 innings Saturday afternoon at Chapman Field.

The series sweep extended the Privateers win streak to four after New Orleans defeated the University of South Alabama 8-2 Tuesday.

The Privateer ‘pen was outstanding as the trio of John Barr, Rafe Schindler and Reeves Martin allowed just two hits in 6.2 innings. Barr went 4.2 innings with five strikeouts after replacing Kyle Arjona, who got the starting nod and went 3.1 frame. Rafe Schindler (2-1) followed with 2.0 shutout innings and picked up the win while Reeves Martin shut the door in the 11th for his second save in as many days.

“This was a big momentum shift for our guys,” said head coach Blake Dean. “To win consistently, you have to pitch well and play good defense and we did that this week. We just have to continue making plays and hope that the wins keep piling up.”

A.G. Ayala (1-1) allowed the game-winning run – an unearned one due to the failed pickoff attempt – in the inning of work.

Down 5-2 in the seventh, Pearce Howard blasted his second home run of the series with a runner on to make it a one-run ballgame. An inning later, Orynn Veillon’s triple and errant throw knotted things at 5-5.

Stifling the Islander hitters, the Privateer pitching staff did their job and in the 11th, Darren Willis led off with a walk to put the go-ahead run on. A failed pickoff attempt moved the shortstop 90 feet away from home and Owen Magee drove him home on a single to put the Silver and Blue in front 6-5.

Martin entered from the bullpen and needed just 17 pitches to send the Privateers back to the Big Easy with back-to-back-to-back-to-back victories as New Orleans completed the sweep with the 6-5 win.

Magee was the leader at the plate, finishing 3-6 with the game winning RBI and is now hitting .339 on the season. Willis went 2-5 with a pair of runs scored bringing his season total to 21. Howard (three RBI), Veillon, Collin Morrill, Devin Morrill, Jay Robinson and Scott Crabtree tallied a hit in the W. Crabtree came in as a pinch hitter in the sixth and singled to center in his season debut.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The teams traded runs the first inning and New Orleans regained the lead off a TAMUCC miscue in the next inning for a 2-1 lead.

A&M-Corpus Christi took a 5-2 edge with four runs in the fourth but the resilient Privateers held the Der’s to two hits over the last 7.0 innings.

As mentioned earlier, Howard’s home run, Veillon’s triple/Corpus Christi’s error and Magee’s RBI single capped off the four-win week.

WHAT’S NEXT
The Privateers will travel to crosstown rival Tulane on Tuesday at Turchin Stadium for game two of the Pelican Cup. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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