NEW ORLEANS – Everyone Green Wave player – whether they did it pitching, on defense or at the plate – chipped in during Tulane’s 15-3 victory over UAB on Thursday night at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium, giving the Greenies their largest margin of victory on the season.
Tulane (28-25, 11-11) collected 14 hits as a team – giving them five straight double-digit hit games – and four hitters – seniors Garrett Cannizaro and Brandon Boudreaux, junior Andrew Garner and freshman Richard Carthon – notched multi-hit games. Carthon went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, four runs scored and his first career home run, as he sent a ball over the right field wall in the bottom of the eighth to give the Green Wave their final two runs of the contest.
UAB (20-34, 5-17) managed to record nine hits, but was only able to score three runs after a solid pitching performance from Tulane starter Alex Byo – making his final home start as a member of the Green Wave. Tulane’s defense, led by junior Bowen Woodson at second base, was able to keep the game in check as Byo allowed eight hits and three walks over 7.0 innings pitched.
But the Green Wave offense is what really stood out on an unseasonably mild day in mid-May. The Greenies notched 15 runs for the second time in three games, tying them for the most runs scored in a game this season. They also tied an inning-high of five runs – scored in the sixth inning – as they’ve only accomplished that feat on two other occasions this season.
“I thought we had some quality at-bats throughout the lineup, throughout the game,” said Tulane baseball head coach Rick Jones. “It’s pretty rare for us to hit like that. But again, we’ve been swinging better as of late and tonight we got into their bullpen and did a good job. Their guy had good numbers, their starter, and I thought we did a good working it.”
Despite the season-high runs they scored, Tulane faced an early deficit, as Byo (5-4) allowed a run in the first inning. UAB’s Ivan De Jesus started off the game with a single to left field, and then Byo walked two-hole hitter Ryan Prinzing. Both runners advanced on a groundout, and Jeff Schalk hit a grounder to third during the next at-bat. Instead of throwing home for the tag out, Cannizaro threw to first for the sure out while conceding the run before getting out of the inning.
UAB’s Cameron Rose allowed a leadoff single to Carthon, but he was caught stealing second. Other than that, the Tulane bats were dormant in the top of the first. Byo only needed a few pitches to retire the side in order during the top of the second.
In the bottom of the second, Tulane came out strong. Cannizaro hit a one-out double down the left field line before senior Sean Potkay was walked. Woodson was plunked by a pitch from Rose (0-2) to load the bases before hitting senior Brennan Middleton during the next at-bat to tie the game at one. Freshman catcher Cameron Burns notched a two-RBI single through the right side to plate Potkay and Woodson, and Carthon followed that up with another single through the right side to score Middleton, giving Tulane an early 4-1 lead.
UAB put runners at second and third with one out in the top of third, but Byo was able to strike out Frost and induce a groundout to leave both runners stranded. In the top of the next inning, Byo once again used a minimal amount of pitches to retire the side in order.
In the top of the fifth, UAB notched their second run of the contest. Griffin Gum reached on a fielder’s choice – which could have been a hit had a diving Woodson not made the snag on the sharp grounder to his left - and advanced to second on a groundout. With two down, Prinzing singled to center field to score Gum, cutting Tulane’s lead to just two before the frame ended.
However, Tulane doubled UAB’s run production in the bottom half of the inning. Carthon got things going by getting hit by a pitch, and he was moved over on a sacrifice bunt by junior Nick DiMaggio. Boudreaux stepped to the plate and delivered a double down the left field line to score Carthon before moving to third on a fly out. Cannizaro knocked in Boudreaux on a single to left field. After walking Potkay, Rose’s night was done, as he was replaced by Sam Kelley. He was able to retire the last batter to end Tulane’s threat.
Unfortunately for UAB, Tulane had to come to the dish again in the bottom of the sixth, where they put up five runs. Middleton started the hit party with a single to shortstop, and he was moved over on a sacrifice bunt by Burns. Carthon walked and DiMaggio singled right field to load the bases. Boudreaux came to the dish with the bases juiced, and Kelley walked him to score Middleton. Garner – who was named Conference USA Hitter of the Week on Monday – continued his hot streak, as he laced a double down the left field line that cleared the bases. The hit extended his hitting-streak to 12 games. Garner ended up scoring on a double by Potkay later in the inning.
UAB added two more hits to their total in the seventh when Prinzing and Frost hit a single and a double, respectively, to put runners on the corners. But Byo was too crafty for Schalk – who popped up to Middleton at short – and Harry Clark – who struck out swinging – to end the game.
Tulane wasn’t done scoring, as they notched two more in both the seventh and the eighth. Boudreaux doubled for the second time on the night, scoring Carthon who reached on a fielder’s choice. Boudreaux came home on a single hit by Garner to center field. In the bottom of the eighth – and with second baseman Tyler Hamby moving to pitcher – pinch-hitter Tim Yandel hit a double into left field that nearly left the park. Carthon then brought both of them home on his home run.
Freshman Emerson Gibbs came on in relief of Byo in the top of the eighth, and he was able to get three straight fly outs in that inning. In the ninth, the Tulane defense committed a pair of errors – the only real blemish on the day for the Green Wave – but Gibbs was solid in his performance, as he only allowed one hit and one run the inning before closing the game out by getting Clark to ground into a double play.
Tomorrow’s game – a 6:30pm start – will see senior lefty David Napoli go up against UAB’s Chase Mallard. The game will be broadcast on 88.3 FM, and live stats can be monitored through TulaneGreenWave.com.
Prior to the game tomorrow, the athletic department will recognize the ten graduating players by presenting them with their diplomas on the field.
Fans can follow the Tulane baseball program on Twitter (@GreenWaveBSB) or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/GreenWaveBaseball.
