Privateers have more answers in 10-8 win over Evansville

NEW ORLEANS – Mitchell Sanford drove in five runs and the New Orleans Privateers got clutch pitching performances in critical moments to defeat the Evansville Purple Aces, 10-8, in the series opener on Friday at Maestri Field.

Sanford came up in a tie game with runners on the corners. He proceeded to hit a line drive single into right that scored Maika Niu. An ensuing fielding error allowed Miguel Useche to score all the way from first to give the Privateers a two-run lead.

Cortez Dennis came in for his first save opportunity. He struck out Harrison Taubert to start the frame. After a ground out to short, Dennis induced a pop up in foul territory from Brent Widder. Useche got back and made the catch as he braced himself against the netting and the Privateers held on to secure a series opening win to open the weekend.

In the eighth, Kyrin Tyson-Long hit the bump with a runner on second and no outs. He proceeded to get out of that jam thanks in large part to two strikeouts which kept the game tied at the time.

Evansville scored their first three runs of the night with two outs (two in the first, one in the second). The Privateers had a response though as they scored in each of the first three innings. Their first big inning was a three-spot in the third.

After Sanford tied the game with an RBI double, the Privateers had runners on second and third with no outs. Donovan Schultz struck out the next two batters but Issac Williams ensured the Privateers grabbed their first lead of the night when he hit a double to left.

The Purple Aces rallied to tie and eventually take the lead in the sixth on a Taubert home run. That lead was short-lived as Sanford came up in the bottom of the sixth and drove a triple to deep center that plated three runs. Sanford landed a home run shy of the cycle.

INSIDE THE BOX
Sanford went 4-for-4 with five RBI on the night. Niu had three hits and four runs scored. Useche finished 1-for-3 with two walks and three runs. Williams was 2-for-4 with a homer and a double. Trey Usey threw 2.2 innings and limited a hard-hitting Purple Aces lineup to one run.

Evansville had 13 hits on the night. Widder drove in four runs and Evan Waggoner had two RBI. On the mound, the Purple Aces had 11 strikeouts as a staff.

NEXT UP
The series continues on Saturday at 2 p.m.

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