NEW ORLEANS (Interstat) — Luke Lycette threw a five-hit shutout and Kruise Newman drove in three runs as the New Orleans Privateers defeated the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders 9-2 on Thursday night at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in a Southland Conference matchup.

Lycette, a right-hander, went the distance for New Orleans, striking out eight without allowing an earned run. He scattered five hits and walked three over nine innings, lowering his ERA after a rocky stretch that included a six-run outing against Lamar on April 26 and a one-run, two-hit inning against South Alabama on April 29. His most recent start, a five-inning win at Nicholls State on May 3, saw him allow one earned run with four strikeouts.

The Islanders took a short-lived lead in the top of the first inning. Jarrett Flaggert doubled to right-center but was left stranded after a groundout and a flyout. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi held the Privateers scoreless until the bottom of the first, when New Orleans loaded the bases on a single by Bryce Biddick, a single by Evan Rogers and a single by Newman. Brett Tidwell walked to force in Biddick, and Adrian Dominguez followed with a sacrifice fly to left that scored Rogers, tying the game 2-2.

The decisive moment came in the bottom of the second. After Rogers drove in Adcox with a single to shallow center, Newman launched a three-run homer to deep right field, scoring Biddick and Rogers and giving the Privateers a 6-2 lead. The home run, Newman’s second of the season, stretched the New Orleans advantage and effectively ended the competitive phase of the game. Newman finished 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi managed to cut the deficit in the top of the fifth, scoring two unearned runs. Chad Towchik reached on a throwing error by Dominguez at first base, and Justin Sanchez was hit by a pitch. After a walk loaded the bases, Flaggert singled up the middle, driving in two runs. The Islanders trailed 6-4 at that point, but the rally was short-lived. John Stark grounded into a double play, and the Privateers escaped further damage.

New Orleans responded immediately in the bottom of the fifth. Dominguez walked and scored from first on a single by Cullen Cummings that was aided by a throwing error from shortstop Sam Krowka, extending the lead to 7-2. The Privateers added two more runs in the bottom of the eighth when Miles Curley homered to left field, scoring Rogers and making it 9-2. Curley went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs.

Rogers led all hitters with four hits in five at-bats, driving in one run and scoring twice. He singled in each of the first, second, fourth and eighth innings. Biddick reached base twice on a single and an intentional walk and scored two runs. Dominguez drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and scored once.

For the Islanders, Flaggert went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, both coming on his fifth-inning single. Christian Smith-Johnson also had two hits, including a triple in the fourth inning. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi used six pitchers in the game. Jabe Schlehuber worked three innings, allowing no hits but two earned runs with two strikeouts. Kade Budd tossed two scoreless innings with two strikeouts, and Pierre-Luc Jacques struck out two in a scoreless inning.

The Islanders dropped to 23-26 overall and 10-13 in Southland play. New Orleans improved to 22-30 and 8-15 in conference. The series continues Friday and Saturday at the same venue.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 6, New Orleans 5. Interstat’s ELO system projected New Orleans with a 59.20 percent probability to win.