Tulane University
McNEESE STATE
Goebel, Claiborne Pitch Baseball Past McNeese State, 8-3
Mar 6, 2007 | Baseball
March 6, 2007
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METAIRIE, La. - Right-handers Matt Goebel and Preston Claiborne combined for 11 strikeouts and sophomore centerfielder Nate Simon blew open a close game with a two-run triple in the eighth as the Tulane University baseball team defeated McNeese State, 8-3, Tuesday evening at Zephyr Field.
The Green Wave out-hit the Cowboys, 11-7, including two-hit performances by Simon, junior shortstop Cat Everett, junior second baseman Brad Emaus and senior first baseman Tim Guidry. Goebel (2-0), a fifth-year senior from Austin, Texas, fanned eight in a 5.0 inning start to earn the victory. Claiborne, a true freshman from Dallas, struck out three and did not allow an earned run over the final 4.0 frames to pick up the first save of his career.
With the win, Tulane's sixth in a row, the Green Wave improve to 10-4 on the year. McNeese State, meanwhile falls to 2-14.
"I thought that Matt Goebel pitched well and I thought Preston Claiborne gave us a good effort," Tulane head coach Rick Jones said. "Nate Simon gave us a big lift both offensively and defensively, and I think that was one of the big keys."
Tulane led 5-2 after five and a half innings, and after going 0-for-2 with a walk in his first three trips to the plate, Simon got things going with an RBI-single through the right side of the infield to give the Green Wave a four-run lead. The Cowboys cut the lead back to three on a run-scoring grounder off the bat of reserve left fielder Andy Riche in the eighth, but Simon quelled talks of a McNeese comeback.
With two on and two out in the bottom of the eighth, Simon had one of the game's most competitive at-bats as he saw 13 pitches from Cowboys reliever Justin LeBleau. After fouling several pitches off into the stands on the third-base side, Simon drove the final pitch of the plate appearance over the head of a drawn in Deron Minor to the left-center wall to account for the final score.
"(Minor) was playing opposite-side outfielder there, and Nate had fouled off four or five balls," Jones said. "Maybe they were trying to cut down the run at the plate, and keep it close. But Nate has a lot of back-spin on his ball, and that ball got up in the air. Even though they were playing shallow, he hit that thing a long ways."
The Green Wave wasted little time getting the early lead as Emaus plated sophomore left fielder Anthony Scelfo with an RBI-grounder in the first before Everett drove in a pair with a single to right in the second to stake the Green Wave to a 3-0 advantage.
McNeese State cut the lead to one on a two-out, two-run single up the middle by designated hitter Bryn Thompson in the fourth, but Tulane answered in the home half of the inning with an RBI-grounder off the bat of sophomore right fielder Warren McFadden and a run-scoring single by Emaus to make it a 5-2 affair.
Goebel, who earned his second victory in as many Tuesdays, allowed two runs on three hits while issuing just one walk. Claiborne, meanwhile, scattered four singles and the lone run he allowed was of the unearned variety due to an error in the eighth.
McNeese State starter Kyle Bull (0-1) was tagged with the loss after giving up three runs on two hits and five walks while fanning four in two-plus innings.
The Green Wave return to action on Wednesday, March 7, when they play host to UNC-Asheville at 6:30 p.m. at Zephyr Field. Wednesday's contest is the fifth of a 12-game home stand as Tulane will host Loyola-Marymount over the weekend, battle cross-town foe UNO in game one of the WOW Café & Wingery Cup on Tuesday, March 13, and take on Siena in a three-game weekend slate beginning on Friday, March 13.
For ticket information for Wednesday's game, as well as future Green Wave athletic events, please contact the Tulane Athletics Ticket Office at 504-861-WAVE. The Zephyr Field Ticket Office is located on the third-base side of stadium and will open approximately two hours before first pitch for each Tulane home game.
