The New Orleans Privateers defeated the Houston Christian University Huskies 11-7 in a baseball game on Apr. 19, closing out their series at Husky Field with a late-game surge.
This victory is significant for the Privateers as they overcame a three-run deficit in the eighth inning and secured their lead with strong pitching and timely hitting.
Trailing 7-4 entering the eighth, New Orleans capitalized on two walks and two hit batters by Ben Norton. Josh Hoffmann was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, allowing Owen Smith to score on a wild pitch and reduce HCU’s lead to one run. Dylan Biddick then delivered a two-run double that put New Orleans ahead 8-7. Luke Lycette struck out all three batters he faced in the bottom of the eighth, helping preserve the new lead.
In the ninth inning, Adrian Dominuguez singled off the bench before Hoffmann added an RBI groundout and Kareh Valentin singled to extend New Orleans’ advantage to four runs. Lycette returned to close out the game, recording his fourth consecutive strikeout before inducing two groundouts handled by Valentin.
Earlier in the game, Miles Curley gave New Orleans an early boost with a two-run home run. The Huskies responded with seven unanswered runs from innings five through seven, including Preston Curtis’s three-run homer and Anthony Avalos’s go-ahead double down the left field line. However, New Orleans finished strong with 11 runs on 12 hits.
Hoffmann led all Privateers hitters with four runs batted in while Biddick and Curley each drove in two runs apiece. Lycette pitched three innings of relief for his third win of the season as New Orleans turned three double plays defensively.
The Privateers are scheduled to play Louisiana State University next Tuesday evening in Baton Rouge.
