UNO loses lead late in opener at Lamar

BEAUMONT, Texas – Tyler LeBlanc had a strong start and he went through seven innings but the Lamar Cardinals rallied late to defeat the New Orleans Privateers 4-2 on Friday night at Vincent-Beck Stadium.

DECISIONS
Foster Kreuzer picked up the win in relief after tossing a scoreless eighth inning. Beau Blanchard took the loss. The save went to Jackson Cleveland, his fourth of the year.

New Orleans (12-10, 0-1) led through seven innings of play at 2-1. LeBlanc limited the Cardinals to six hits as he tied his longest outing of the season. The Privateer defense was also huge in the seventh. After a leadoff double allowed, Anthony Herron Jr. made a diving catch on a bunt pop up. Then, the Privateers got a double play after catching the runner too far off second on a line drive.

The game turned to the eighth and the Cardinals offense surged ahead with two home runs. Kevin Bermudez launched a homer to left to tie the game at 2-2. Two batters later, Kanin Dodge put the Cardinals ahead with a two-run shot.

Cleveland came on and allowed an infield single with one out but that was as far as it got in the ninth inning. Cleveland retired the next two Privateers in order to preserve the save for Lamar (15-6, 1-0).

Tristan Moore got the scoring started when he hit a home run off the batters’ eye in center to put the Privateers up 1-0. Another run came across when Issac Williams scored on a double play the Cardinals turned with the bases loaded and no outs.

Lamar got a run back in the fifth on an RBI single by Ryan Snell.

INSIDE THE BOX
Dylan Mach collected three of the Privateers’ seven hits on the night. Miguel Useche reached base twice. Jack Williams threw a scoreless inning in his second appearance of the season.

Bermudez and Ethan Ruiz each had two hits for the Cardinals. Snell struck out seven batters in seven innings of work.

NEXT UP
The series continues with a 2 p.m. first pitch on Saturday.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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