Tulane University
Siena
Tulane Baseball Edges Siena, 8-6
Mar 10, 2001 | Baseball
March 10, 2001
NEW ORLEANS, La. - Tulane's (16-3) Steve Shirley hit a game clinching grand slam to give the Green Wave an 8-4 victory over Siena (3-13) on Saturday afternoon.
The Saints came out swinging as they scored a pair of runs in the first inning, on four consecutive hits, and one run in the third to take an early 3-0 lead.
Siena starting pitcher Brent Wengert kept the Wave silent through the first two innings until James Burgess hit a leadoff single to start the third and later scored on an error by Siena?s third baseman. Jake Gautreau sent in a second run on an opposite field double. Tulane trailed 3-2 heading in to the fourth.
The Saints scored a run in the top of the fifth but the Green Wave answered with six runs. Matt Madden sent in the first run on a double and Andy Cannizaro followed with an RBI single to the shortstop. Shirley hit a grand slam, the second of his career, to give Tulane an 8-4 lead. That was Shirley's only hit of the day in four at bats. He posted four RBI.
Siena threatened in the in the seventh, scoring two runs, but couldn't gain enough momentum to overcome the Green Wave lead.
Tulane's Matt Foster (4-1) got the win. He went 5 2/3 innings gave up four runs, three earned, and struck out four. Will Walter pitched 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief and picked up his second save of the season.
Wengert (1-3) got the loss after giving up eight runs in 5 2/3 innings of work.
On the afternoon, Gautreau was 2-for-4 with one run score and one RBI. He recorded his eighth double of the year. Burgess had two hits in four at bats.
Saints leftfielder Ryan Finn was 4-for-5 with four RBI.
The teams wrap up the series on Sunday at noon. The game will be broadcast over the internet at www.TulaneGreenWave.com
