SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE SHOWDOWN SET FOR EDBINBURG

EDINBURG, Texas (Interstat) — The New Orleans Privateers and the Texas-Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros will continue their Southland Conference series Saturday at UTRGV Baseball Stadium, with both teams looking to build momentum after uneven starts to the season.

New Orleans (6-7) enters following an 11-6 midweek victory over Jackson State on Tuesday. The Privateers’ offense erupted for 11 runs, led by first baseman Kruise Newman, who launched a pinch-hit grand slam. Newman has been a key power source, hitting four home runs with 10 RBIs in his last 10 games.

UTRGV (5-8) snapped a four-game skid with a 10-4 win over Texas Southern on Wednesday. Right-hander Wyatt Wiatrek delivered a quality start in that victory, going five innings and allowing two earned runs with five strikeouts. His performance stabilized a pitching staff that will be tested by a New Orleans lineup showing recent potency.

The series opened Friday night. These teams last met in non-conference action in the 2023 season.

The Privateers have shown a Jekyll-and-Hyde tendency, averaging 9.2 runs in their six wins but just 2.7 runs in their seven losses. Beyond Newman, second baseman Evan Rogers drove in four runs against Jackson State.

The Vaqueros’ offense, which managed only one run total in a three-game sweep at Lamar last weekend, broke out for 10 runs on 12 hits against Texas Southern. Outfielder Rocco Garza Gongora and catcher Chayton Fischer combined for five RBIs in that win.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, New Orleans is projected to win 6-4.

First pitch is scheduled for Saturday afternoon. The three-game series concludes Sunday.