The New Orleans Privateers were narrowly defeated by the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks, 6-5, on Friday night at Maestri Field. The Privateers mounted a late comeback but could not overcome the deficit in the final inning.
Trailing by three runs entering the bottom of the eighth, New Orleans loaded the bases with a single, walk, and hit by pitch. Eli Tidwell then delivered a two-run single against Kadin Munson on the first pitch he saw, reducing Stephen F. Austin’s lead to one run.
In the top of the ninth, Brycen Smith held the Lumberjacks scoreless to give his team another opportunity. Dylan Biddick led off with a double to deep left off Adrian Rubio. After an out, Adrian Dominguez hit a ball deep to right that allowed Biddick to advance to third base. However, Karson Evans grounded out for the final out as Rubio secured Stephen F. Austin’s eighth win of the season.
New Orleans had taken an early lead in the first inning with three runs off starter Cody Templeton. The Privateers loaded the bases with no outs and scored their first run via a double play before Dominguez and Evans each contributed RBI singles for a 3-0 advantage.
Stephen F. Austin responded in the fourth inning by tying the game through runs scored on a passed ball and wild pitch. The Lumberjacks moved ahead when Julian Swift hit a triple into right-center field that brought home two runs; Mark Henning followed up with an RBI single on his first pitch faced, extending their lead to 6-3.
The Lumberjacks finished with 14 hits while Templeton recovered from his rough start to throw five consecutive shutout innings and earn his second win this year. Riley Marcotte took the loss for New Orleans.
Tidwell reached base four times during the game—twice on hits and twice via walks—while Dominguez, Biddick, and Evans also recorded two hits each. William Andrade and Marcotte pitched four innings apiece for New Orleans. Of note, six of the last eight matchups between these teams have been decided by one or two runs.
The series is scheduled to continue Saturday at noon.
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