Late Comeback Propels New Orleans to Win Over Pitt

Saturday, March 5

New Orleans, LA.

2:00 PM

Pitt

6-3

New Orleans

8-2

Pitt

New Orleans

Late Comeback Propels New Orleans to Win Over Pitt

3/5/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

March 5, 2016

Box Score

NEW ORLEANS – A 10-run eighth inning from the Privateers of New Orleans sent the Panthers to their second consecutive loss from Maestri Field Saturday afternoon.

Pitt committed a total of seven errors in the outing, including four in the eighth inning. The Privateers mounted a late comeback to ensure the series win, as they earned the 13-6 decision.

“When you have a 5-3 lead heading into the bottom of the 8^th inning, you have to close it out,” said head coach Joe Jordano. “We made too many physical errors again today that provided way too many free opportunities for New Orleans, and they, to their credit, took advantage again this afternoon.

“Again, if you have a two-run lead with six outs to go, you have to get the job done. We have to do a better job of controlling the things we can control.”

The Privateers offense stayed hot early on, plating two runs in the bottom of the first. A single from the team’s leading hitter, Kyle Bracey, sent Aaron Palmer and Dakota Dean home. Palmer reached on an error and advanced to third when Dean singled down the left field line. In an odd sequence of events, a rundown between Ron Sherman and Palmer allowed Hezekiah Allen to reach first and load the bases for Bracey. While two runs were able to score, starter Aaron Sandefur and the Panthers’ defense managed to escape the rest of the inning as the Privateers took the 2-0 lead.

The scoring halted for four innings as neither team was able to advance a runner past second base. Sandefur found his groove in the middle innings of the game, retiring nine consecutive batters before giving up a single to Preston Marsh in the top of the fifth.

The Panthers swung the momentum in the sixth, taking the lead for the first time on the afternoon. Charles LeBlanc got things started with a single through the left side, stealing second before Aaron Schnurbusch would reach on a throwing error by the shortstop, advancing LeBlanc to third. Schnurbusch stole second to put both runners in scoring position and a triple from Sherman brought both Panthers home to tie the contest at 2-2.

Caleb Parry grounded out to the first baseman, colliding with Marsh on the line but allowing Sherman to score and give the Panthers the 3-2 advantage.

The Privateers would tie things up in the seventh as Samuel Capielano would cross the dish on a wild pitch from Josh Mitchell.

Pitt took a two-run lead in the eighth as Alex Kowalczyk walked before being swapped out for pinch runner Jawan McAllister. McAllister showed his speed as he advanced to second on an error by the pitcher’s failed pickoff attempt. He advanced to third and was brought home by a Sherman single. Parry advanced Sherman to second with a groundout, and a double to left center from Johnson brought Sherman around to put Pitt up 5-3.

The bottom of the eighth was an offensive explosion for the Privateers as they managed 10 runs off of five hits and four Pitt errors.

A triple from LeBlanc deep into the right field corner put a runner in scoring position in the top of the ninth, as the Panthers looked to stay alive. LeBlanc would score on a wild pitch to Schnurbusch to bring the score to 13-6, but that would be all the Panthers could muster in their final frame.

Mitchell earned the loss with 1.0 innings of work, surrendering two runs, one earned one and one walk, while striking out one. Starter Sandefur tossed 6.0 innings, allowing four hits, three runs, one earned run and one walk, while fanning three.

Offensively, Sherman led the way, going 2-of-4 with two runs, three runs batted in and one walk, including a triple. Shortstop LeBlanc went 3-of-5 with two runs scored.   

With the loss the Panthers fall to 6-3-0 on the season, succumbing to two consecutive losses at the hands of the Privateers. The final game of the series will take place tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET as the Panthers look to head back to Pittsburgh on a winning note.

Live stats for tomorrow’s finale can be found here. In addition, a free audio stream will also be available here. Fans can also elect to purchase a subscription to view the game live by clicking here.

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Notes: The loss marks the fourth time this season and second consecutive game in which Pitt has surrendered 10 or more runs in an outing … the Panthers let up 10 on Feb. 19 vs. Niagara, surrendered 11 against Ohio State on Feb. 20 and allowed 12 to New Orleans on March 5 … the loss is the fifth all-time to the Privateers as they take the 5-3 lead in the all-time series … Ron Sherman has hit safely in 15 consecutive contests, the longest streak since Elvin Soto from April 30, 2014 – May 2015, 2013 … Charles LeBlanc has hit safely in eight straight … Ron Sherman has reached base safely in 17 straight games … Charles LeBlanc has reached base in 16 straight games … Aaron Schnurbusch has found a base in 10 consecutive games … heading into the contest the Panthers led the nation in home runs with 21 … the game was just the third (of nine) in which Pitt did not record a home run.