Tulane University
Alabama
Baseball Upsets No. 4 Alabama
Feb 19, 2000 | Baseball
Feb. 19, 2000
NEW ORLEANS - The Tulane (5-1) baseball team scored seven runs in the seventh inning to overcome a 7-2 deficit and defeat No. 4 Alabama (3-3) 11-7 in Saturday's game of the Winn Dixie Showdown.
Alabama jumped to an early lead after Kelley Gulledge hit a three RBI home run to put the Tide up 5-0 in the third inning. The Green Wave trailed the Crimson Tide 7-2 entering the seventh inning. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Mickey McKee hit a bases loaded two RBI single, beginning the Wave scoring rally. Redshirt freshman Jon Kaplan gave the Green Wave the lead as he hit a three RBI triple into center. Tulane scored seven runs on five hits in the inning.
Tulane's Beau Hearod hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning to secure the Wave victory. The home run was Hearod's first of the season, the team's second.
Green Wave closer Brandon Belanger broke the Tulane career record for saves as he picked up the 21st of his career and fifth of the season. Belanger replaced starting pitcher Jared Berkowitz in the eighth who got the win for Tulane and improved to 2-0.
For the Wave, Hearod was 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. On the evening, Kaplan was 1-for-2 with a triple and three RBI, as McKee was 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI.
Alabama's Lance Cormier held the Wave to just four hits and two runs through the first six innings. Cormier left the game after seven 2/3 innings pitched, holding the Wave's offense to just four hits. He walked a career high seven batters, gave up four runs and struck out six.
In earlier action in the Winn Dixie Showdown, Auburn defeated UNO 4-3 in 10 innings.
Tulane plays cross-town rival UNO Sunday at 4:00 p.m. in the final game of the Winn Dixie Showdown.
