NEW ORLEANS, La. – HCU baseball came up short in a 9-7 loss to New Orleans on Friday evening after despite rallying from an early four-run deficit to tie the game in the eighth inning at Maestri Field.

The Privateers (22-15, 9-11 SLC) opened the scoring in the bottom of the second. After the leadoff hitter reached on an error and a one-out single by Collin Husser, Jake D'Altrui launched a three-run homer to left center. New Orleans added a fourth run later in the inning when Karson Evans came home on a double steal attempt, making it 4-0 with two unearned runs in the frame.

The Huskies (22-15, 14-6 SLC) responded in the top of the fourth. Kenneth Dutka led off with a single, and Tevis Payne followed with a walk. A sacrifice bunt by Jack Walker moved both runners into scoring position, and Parker Edwards delivered a blast to left for a three-run home run to cut the deficit to one.

New Orleans tacked on another run in the bottom half thanks to a hit batter, a single and a wild pitch, stretching the lead to 5-3. HCU stayed close, trimming the gap in the sixth when Payne Drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a single by Walker. Edwards then added his fourth RBI of the night with a sacrifice fly to right field. UNO added an unearned run in the sixth.

Trailing 6-4 heading into the eighth, the Huskies rallied again. Dutka opened the frame with a single and advanced on a fielder's choice. With two outs, Edwards came through with an RBI double to score Payne followed by a Rhett Hendricks single to left to bring home Edwards and tie the game at 6-6.

The Privateers answered immediately in the bottom of the inning. After a leadoff walk and a single by Jake D'Altrui, Dalton Hurst dropped a bunt single to score the go-ahead run. Adrian Dominguez followed with a two-RBI single to right field with two outs to make it 9-6.

With one out in the top of the ninth, pinch hitter Luke Bard drew a walk followed by a single off the bat of Trevor Roper. Dutka then came up with a double to center to score pinch runner Walker Bazile and put two runners in scoring position with just one out, trailing 9-7. The threat, and the game, ended with a flyout and a groundout.

Edwards led the offense, driving in five runs on a home run, a double, and a sacrifice fly. Dutka reached base three times with a pair of singles and a double.

On the mound, Edwards threw seven innings with six runs allowed but just three of them earned. The senior struck out five while walking two. Kyler Mentzel (1-2) took the loss for the Huskies in relief.

HCU will look to bounce back in the series finale on Saturday, April 19, with first pitch set for 2:00 p.m. in New Orleans.