Tulane University
Rice
Tulane Drops Tight Game Three to Owls, 7-4
Apr 5, 2009 | Baseball
April 5, 2009
HOUSTON- The Tulane baseball club started out strong Sunday afternoon against the Owls of Rice University at Reckling Park in Houston as the Green Wave jumped out to an early lead and enjoyed a 4-1 advantage through six innings but couldn't overcome a five-run seventh inning by the Owls as Tulane eventually fell in game three of the series, 7-4.
Tulane (17-14, 1-5 C-USA) got on the board first when shortstop Josh Prince opened the game by reaching on an error. He stole second base and a balk by Owls' starter Matthew Reckling moved him to third where Sam Honeck logged the sac-fly RBI to plate Prince and the Green Wave was up 1-0. Wave hurler Josh Zeid followed by making quick work of the Rice lineup in the bottom of the frame, getting two ground balls and a fly ball out to retire the Owls in order.
The Green Wave offense capitalized on the free passes issued by Reckling after Drew Allain opened the top of the fourth with the base on balls. Nick Boullosa laid down a bunt and reached on the fielder's choice that retired Allain at second. Boullosa picked up a stolen base and Reckling went on to throw back-to-back walks to Matt Ryan and Prince to load the bases an end Reckling's outing. Rice head coach Wayne Graham called on Andrew Benak to enter the contest in relief to face Scott Powell with one out. Powell got a hold of one, taking it deep to the gap in left-center field but left fielder Michael Fuda made a diving grab to rob Powell of a hit. Powell did pick up the RBI, when Boullosa tagged up at third and gave the Wave the additional run and a 2-0 lead.
The Tulane defense worked out of a jam in the bottom of the fifth when Owls' designated hitter Diego Seastrunk led off with a base hit up the middle. Gonzales-Luna followed with a base on balls and with one out and runners at second and third, Craig Manuel hit a ground ball to the right side to score Seastrunk and bring the Owls within one, 2-1 but Zeid came back to induce the fly ball out of Jimmy Comerota, stranding the tying run at third.
Rice threatened again in the bottom of the sixth when Brock Holt reached via a leadoff walk. Holt stole second but Zeid threw a ground ball out to Chad Mozingo for the first out of the inning. Zeid followed, getting some defensive help from second baseman Seth Henry, who raced to foul territory to track down the popup off the bat of Rick Hague. With two outs and Holt still on second, the Wave intentionally walked Anthony Rendon, bringing up Seastrunk, who also reached via a base on balls. With the bases loaded and two outs, Zeid worked out of the inning, getting Gonzales-Luna to popup. Wave third baseman Matt Ryan made the sliding catch in foul territory to end the inning while Tulane relinquished no runs in the frame.
Tulane kept the momentum going when Powell led off the top of the seventh with a double to right-center field. Honeck followed, tagging a pitch through the right side, scoring Powell and winding up at third on an errant throw by Owls' right fielder Gonzales-Luna. Rice went to their bullpen again, this time calling on Jordan Rogers, who walked Schaffer. With runners at the corners and no outs, Rogers threw over to first in a pickoff move but the errant throw went past first baseman Comerota, scoring Honeck and moving Schaffer into scoring position, as Tulane extended their lead, 4-1 before the Owls got out of the inning.
Rice opened their half of the seventh with a base hit off the bat of Fuda but Zeid went back to work, getting Manuel to fly out to Powell in left. A base hit by Comerota would end Zeid's outing, with the senior righty turning in a solid performance, throwing 6.1 innings and striking out two while retiring 19 batters faced. Preston Claiborne came in to face Holt, who picked up an RBI single to left, plating Fuda and cutting Tulane's lead in half, 4-2. Two pitches later, Mozingo got the best of Claiborne, taking him deep to right field for the 5-4 lead. Hague followed suit with a solo shot to center field and the Owls extended their lead 6-4. Nick Pepitone came in to face Rendon and with one out, Rendon singled to left but didn't any further as Pepitone got Seastrunk to ground into the 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Another Owls home run in the bottom of the eight would give the game its final score of 7-4.
The Green Wave will take on UL-Lafayette on Tuesday, April 7, at 6PM at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium.
