Tulane University
Memphis
Baseball Falls Prey To The Big Inning At Memphis
Apr 7, 2002 | Baseball
April 7, 2002
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Redshirt-freshman right fielder Gerald Clark, junior leftfielder Aaron Feldman and junior centerfielder Jon Kaplan each three hits, and the Green Wave tallied six stolen bases, but it was not enough as the Tulane University baseball team dropped the series finale to Conference USA foe 13-7 Sunday afternoon at Nat Buring Stadium.
The Green Wave took an early 4-1 lead after two and a half innings, but the Tigers plated seven runs in the third and five in the fifth to turn the tide of the series and give Memphis the win. With the loss, Tulane falls to 18-16 overall and 5-7 in league play.
The Green Wave got things going early on as the first three batters singled, including a two-RBI single by senior second baseman James Jurries to give Tulane a 2-0 lead. Then after Jurries stole second and advanced to third on an error by Memphis catcher Barrett Smith, sophomore first baseman Michael Aubrey lifted a sacrifice fly to right to give the Green Wave a 3-0 advantage.
Memphis came right back in the home half of the inning, however, as centerfielder Paul Reuer hit a one-out single through the right side, advanced to second on a groundout and scored on an RBI double by first baseman Adam Gesell to make it a two-run ballgame.
Tulane got the run back in the top of the third when Jurries singled, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore designated hitter Anthony Giarratano.
The Tigers, though, changed the entire outlook of the game as Memphis took advantage of a Tulane error and three balks to plate seven runs and take an 8-1 lead. The Green Wave had a few opportunities to get out of the inning unscathed as Reuer singled and got caught leaning away from the bag in a good pickoff move by Tulane starter Beau Richardson. Reuer sprinted to second and Aubrey's throw to freshman shortstop Tommy Manzella was on the mark, but Reuer knocked the ball out of his glove when the pair made contact and the Tigers had a runner in scoring position.
Then, with bases loaded and two outs, designated hitter Jay Fik ripped a ball toward the right side, but Jurries layed out to smother the ball. Throwing from his knees, Jurries dribbled a three hopper toward first that Aubrey couldn't squeeze to reach on a single and open the scoring floodgates.
Tulane came right back in the top of the fourth as Kaplan drew a leadoff walk, stole second, advanced to third on a single by Feldman and scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Jurries to cut the lead to 8-5. But Memphis put up another big inning in the fifth as the Tigers scored five runs on two hits and had the benefit of two walks and two hit-by-pitch to make it 13-5.
The Green Wave had a chance for a big inning of their own in the top of the seventh as Aubrey, Giarratano and right fielder Gerald Clark all singled to load the bases with nobody out, but pinch hitter Bryan Stelmack grounded into a double play and Tulane was able to plate just a pair in the inning to close out the scoring.
The Green Wave returns to action on Wednesday, April 10 when Tulane looks to break the NCAA single-game attendance mark against arch-rival LSU in the Louisiana Superdome. For ticket information, call the Tulane Athletic Ticket Office at (504) 861-WAVE.
