Tulane University
Houston
Tulane Comes Up Short in Game Two Against Houston
Mar 28, 2009 | Baseball
March 28, 2009
NEW ORLEANS- The Cougars of Houston got the best of Tulane as the Green Wave fell in game two, 4-1 Saturday afternoon at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium.
Houston starter Michael Goodnight (3-1) threw six solid innings, giving up one run on five hits while striking out six, before the Cougars sent Donnie Joseph into the shut the game down. Joseph earned his second save of the season after striking out five of the 10 Tulane batsmen faced in 3.0 innings of service.
"We missed chances early with runners on and just couldn't get the big hit," head coach Rick Jones said. "Their big lefty came in and I was extremely impressed with him. He did a great job in relief and so did Preston [Claiborne]. Preston was outstanding in relief. We just couldn't' get out of the sixth. With five hits, we didn't have much answer for them today."
The Green Wave picked up their only run in the bottom of the first after Wave starter Matt Petiton (3-1) made quick work of the top of the Cougar lineup to open the contest. Petiton got two quick fly balls to retire Blake Kelso and Zak Presley. Chase Dempsay took a four-pitch walk but Petiton got his team back into the dugout after picking Dempsay off on a pickle play that was scored 1-3-6-4-1-6 to end the top half.
Josh Prince (1-3) led off the Tulane half of the inning with a double to the right field corner. Seth Henry moved Prince over to third on a ground ball to the right side, bringing up three-hitter Sam Honeck. Honeck followed with a walk and Jeremy Schaffer (2-4) took a 2-2 Michael Goodnight pitch through the right side to plate Prince and give Tulane an early 1-0 advantage.
Houston evened the game at one apiece in the top of the fourth when Caleb Ramsey got a pitch to hit with two outs and drove the ball into the net in right field for the solo shot. The Cougars added three run in the top of the sixth when Kelso led off the top of the frame with a double to right field. He quickly moved up a bag on a sacrifice bunt from Presley and subsequently scored when Dempsay laced a pitch down the third base line. Ramsey picked up his second RBI of the day when he singled to left field, scoring Dempsay. Ramsey stole third and with William Kankel in the box, Petiton battled, throwing nine pitches before Kankel punched it through the middle of the infield which was playing in, giving the Cougars the 4-1 lead.
Claiborne entered the game in relief of Petiton and Tulane picked up the second out of the inning when Kankel was caught trying to steal third by Schaffer. Claiborne recorded the third out of the inning, sending pinch hitter Matt Murphy back to the dugout with a called third strike out in the books to end the Cougar rally in the sixth but Houston remained on top, 4-1.
The remainder of the game was a pitcher's duel as Goodnight retired the Tulane side in order in the bottom of the sixth, followed by Claiborne doing the same to the Cougars in the top of the seventh. Houston sent Joseph to the bump to face the Wave bats in the bottom of the seventh but Joseph shut down the side in order. Claiborne returned the favor, downing the Cougars in order in the top of the eighth but the Tulane couldn't overcome the Cougars sixth-inning rally, falling 4-1 in game two of the series.
The teams will face each other in the series finale on Sunday at 1PM at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium.
