Tulane University
Charlotte
Tulane Slips Past Charlotte
Apr 6, 2001 | Baseball
April 6, 2001
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Tulane (26-7, 6-4 C-USA) baseball team recorded 12 hits en route to an 8-6 win over Charlotte (13-15, 5-5 C-USA) on Friday evening.
This is the first time Tulane has defeated UNCC on a Friday night in Charlotte since Rick Jones took charge of the Green Wave club.
Tulane scored first on a Steve Shirley ground out to second base, giving the Wave a 1-0 lead after the first inning.
Wave starter Matt Foster held UNCC scoreless until the third. With runners on first and second, Brad Erwin sent in a run to tie the game, 1-1.
Foster picked up his seventh win of the season. He went 8 2/3 innings, gave up11 hits, six runs, five earned and struck out eight.
Michael Aubrey hit his eighth home run of the season in the fourth, a two-run shot into left. This is the fourth consecutive game Aubrey has hit a home run. He was 1-for-4 with two RBI. Tulane added an additional run in the fourth for a 4-1 lead.
Shaky fielding by Tulane sparked a 49ers rally in the bottom of the fourth. A passed ball and a throwing error by Matt Groff allowed a pair of 49er runs, cutting the Wave?s lead, 4-3.
Tulane extended its lead and added four insurance runs in the top of the ninth. Anthony Giarratano started the inning with a lead off walk. Jon Kaplan advanced Giarratano and reached first on a bunt. Jake Gautreau scored two runs on a single to first. Steve Shirley blasted a home run into left giving the Wave an 8-3 lead.
James Jurries and Gautreau were 2-for-5, while Giarratano was 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Charlotte rallied again in the bottom of the ninth adding three runs on three hits. Foster ran into a bit of trouble and gave up three runs in three hits but Steven Baldes came in relief and got the final out on one pitch.
The losing pitcher was John Maine (7-3). He pitched a complete game and struck out four.
The teams play game two on Saturday, April 5 at 1:00 (CST).
