MOBILE, Ala. (Interstat) — A parade of six New Orleans relievers combined for 7 2/3 innings of scoreless, one-hit baseball, and the Privateers scratched out two early runs to edge the South Alabama Jaguars 2-1 in a tightly contested midweek game Tuesday afternoon at Eddie Stanky Field.

The victory, sealed under the lights after an afternoon start, improved New Orleans to 12-19, while South Alabama fell to 18-11. The result defied pregame projections, as Interstat’s game simulator had forecast a 5-3 Jaguars win, giving the home team a 68.4% probability of victory based on its ELO rating system.

The most critical sequence of the game occurred in the bottom of the second inning, which ultimately decided the contest. South Alabama, trailing 2-0, mounted its only serious offensive threat against New Orleans starter Jack Garvey. Paxton Bigby and Mike Young led off the frame with back-to-back singles. Garvey was then relieved by Gus Rogers, who immediately surrendered a double to right-center field by Rett Johnson, scoring Bigby and moving Young to third. A relay from center fielder Kruise Newman to second baseman Dylan Biddick cut down Young at the plate for the inning’s first out, limiting the damage to a single run. Rogers then stranded Johnson at third by striking out Ethan Melton. That run would stand as South Alabama’s only tally, as the Jaguars managed just one more hit—a Stewart Puckett single in the third—over the final seven innings against the Privateers’ bullpen.

New Orleans had staked its pitchers to a lead in the top of the fourth against South Alabama starter Hayden O’Dell. Owen Smith led off with a double and scored on Newman’s single up the middle. Newman then came home on an RBI double by Evan Rogers, providing the game’s final margin.

From there, the Privateers’ relief corps dominated. Rex Henderson, Logan Waldschmidt, Luke Lycette, Lane Alack and Tyler Velino followed Rogers, with Henderson, Lycette and Alack each throwing two scoreless innings. They navigated occasional traffic, stranding runners in scoring position in the third and fourth innings. The Jaguars’ best late chance came in the eighth when Blake Guerin walked and pinch-runner Brady Picarelli was caught stealing in a strike-’em-out, throw-’em-out double play. In the ninth, Alack worked around a two-out walk to secure the win.

O’Dell took the loss for South Alabama, allowing two runs on five hits over five innings. Garvey earned the win for New Orleans, and Alack recorded the save. Both teams finished with six hits. Newman and Rogers each had an RBI for the Privateers, while Johnson drove in the lone run for the Jaguars.

The game was a stark contrast to recent form for both clubs. New Orleans entered having lost three straight at Southeastern Louisiana, while South Alabama was coming off a series win over Old Dominion that included a 12-1 victory.

New Orleans opens a home series against McNeese State on Thursday. South Alabama travels to face Coastal Carolina for a Thursday start to its next series.