Tulane University
at Southern Miss
Baseball Wins Game Three At Southern Miss 5-4
Mar 30, 2003 | Baseball
March 30, 2003
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Freshman right fielder Brian Bogusevic went 3-for-4 and senior centerfielder Jonny Kaplan had two hits and three stolen bases as the Tulane University baseball team defeated Conference USA foe Southern Mississippi 5-4 Sunday afternoon at Pete Taylor Park.
The Green Wave tallied double-digit hit totals with 10 on Sunday, and got a solid pitching performance from junior Cory Hahn who gave up four runs on six hits while striking out three and walking two in a 7.0-inning start. The win snaps a three-game skid for Tulane as the Green Wave improves to 20-9 overall and 5-4 in C-USA play. Southern Miss, meanwhile, falls to 20-8 on the year and 7-2 in league action.
Tulane got on the board early as Kaplan led off the game with a single, stole second and third, and scored on an RBI-single off the bat of freshman left fielder Nathan Southard to put the Green Wave ahead 1-0.
Southern Miss answered with a run of its own in the bottom of the frame when Matt Shepherd singled and scored on an RBI-base hit by Clint King two at-bats later.
The Green Wave had two-out rally in the second when Bogusevic singled home senior designated hitter Aaron Feldman from second and junior third baseman Turner Brumby doubled one-at bat later to bring the rookie outfielder plateward to give Tulane a 3-1 lead.
Like the first, the Golden Eagles responded in the bottom of the inning when Jason Lowery hit a one-out double, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch by Hahn.
Tulane got the run back in the next inning courtesy of a two-out RBI-single by Feldman to retake a two-run lead. Following a pair of scoreless innings, the Golden Eagles clawed out a run in the sixth when Griff Israel hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Brad Willcutt.
The Green Wave got the run back in the top of the eighth on a sacrifice fly by sophomore second baseman Tommy Manzella. But with a two-run lead, and Hahn beginning to show signs of fatigue, Tulane nearly saw a repeat performance of the previous two days when the Golden Eagles came back to win the game in their final at-bats.
Following a walk by Matt Shepherd which chased Hahn from the game, Tulane brought in rookie Tyler Kimmons to get the Green Wave out of the inning. Southern Miss had other ideas as Jeff Cook walked, Willcutt hit an RBI-single to cut the lead to one, and Griff Israel drew a base-on-balls to load the bases with only one out.
From there, Tulane head coach Rick Jones called on Joey Charron, and the preseason All-Conference USA reliever came through with a strikeout and a line-out to third to turn Southern Miss away.
Following a scoreless top of the ninth, Charron retired the side in order to earn his fifth save of the year.
Tulane returns to action on Tuesday, April 1 when they take on cross-town rival UNO at 6:30 p.m. at Turchin Stadium. For tickets to that game and other Tulane baseball contests, contact the Tulane Athletics Ticket Office at (504) 861-WAVE.
