Privateers drop rubber game at Lamar, 9-4

BEAUMONT, Texas – The New Orleans Privateers threatened a rally late but were turned back in a 9-4 loss against the Lamar Cardinals on Sunday afternoon at Vincent-Beck Stadium. The Cardinals took the series with the win.

DECISIONS
Daniel Cole pitched 3.1 innings of relief and picked up the victory. The loss went to Collin Horton. Cardinals closer, Jackson Cleveland earned his second save of the weekend and fifth of the season.

Trailing 6-0 heading into the seventh, the Privateer offense ramped up the pressure. Three consecutive singles, the third of which drove in the first run of the game got New Orleans on the board. Then Issac Williams roped a double to left which plated two more.

When the dust settled a sac fly by Kasten Furr trimmed the Cardinals lead to 6-4. New Orleans kept up the heat in the eighth as the first two men reached base. Cleveland then struck out the next two batters and induced a fly out to end the threat.

Lamar went on to score three runs in the bottom of the eighth to put the game out of reach and clinch the series.

The bottom of the order did most of the work offensively for Lamar at the outset. Kirkland Banks hit a two-run homer to left in the second and Ethan Ruiz followed suit as he hit a two-run homer in the fourth. The Cardinals built a 5-0 lead on just three hits.

INSIDE THE BOX
Dylan Mach added two hits to his weekend total, bringing it to seven. Williams had two hits and a walk. The Privateers drew six free passes on the day. Canaan Clayton threw a scoreless inning in his third consecutive appearance.

Ben MacNaughton had two hits and a stolen base. Banks added two walks to his line. Brooks Caple threw three shutout innings. Ruiz went 2-for-3 with three runs scored.

NEXT UP
The Privateers will head to Tulane on Wednesday, Mar. 29. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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