Tulane University
Southern Miss
Garrett shines in Tulane's 7-2 Victory
May 1, 2009 | Baseball
May 1, 2009
HATTIESBURG, MISS.- The Green Wave baseball club bested host Southern Miss 7-2 in game one of the Conference USA series Friday night behind a pitching gem from senior righty Jonathan Garrett (5-1). The Mandeville, La. native set a new career high for strikeouts with 13 en route to the victory. Tulane improved their overall record to 27-19 and 8-8 in C-USA while the Golden Eagles drop to 27-18 and 10-9 in C-USA.
Tulane got off to a hot start with Josh Prince opening the game up with a walk. Scott Powell hit a flare into right-center field to move Prince into scoring position. Sam Honeck stepped in and drew a base on balls to load the bases for Jeremy Schaffer. Schaffer barreled up on the ball but it went to the deepest part of the yard, turning into a sacrifice fly that plated Prince to get the Green Wave on the board first. With one out, Seth Henry picked up a RBI-double on a chopper over the head of Golden Eagles' third baseman Taylor Walker. Powell scored easily on the play, while Honeck advanced to third. Steve Moritz hit a slow ground ball to the right side that scored Honeck and moved Henry to third and Tulane was out to an early 3-0 lead before the first half of the inning was complete.
Garrett headed to the hill for the Green Wave and went right to work after issuing a leadoff bloop single to Walker. Garrett picked up the second out himself, striking out James Ewing. Walker had stolen second during the at bat but was promptly retired on a ground ball off the bat of Bo Davis. Tulane's shortstop opted for the play at third and Garrett threw a chair to Kameron Brunty to hold Southern Miss scoreless in the inning.
But the Golden Eagles wouldn't be shutout, as Joey Archer picked up his eighth home run of the year in the bottom of the second. Garrett didn't bat an eye and came back to get out of the inning with the just the lone run. He continued dealing in the third, throwing a three-up, three-down frame. Garrett maintained his poise in the fourth, as the righty gave up two hits to open the inning, but turned around to down the next three hitters in order, two via strikeout. Garrett shined in the fifth, retiring the next three USM hitters, two of which via strikeout, to surpass his career-high six strikeouts with eight before the inning would close.
Garrett got some more run support in the sixth when Powell hit a high chopper to short that he beat out for the base hit off new Golden Eagles' hurler Jonathan Johnston. With one out, Schaffer hit a rod to left, moving Powell to second for Henry. Henry turned on a pitch, taking it down the third base line for his second double of the day that sent Powell and Schaffer across the pay station and Tulane extended their lead 5-1 and ended the outing of Johnston.
Garrett continued to deal, with the senior captain picking up four additional strikeouts through eight innings and the offense behind him wasn't finish yet, as Honeck opened up the ninth with his third base on balls of the evening, bringing up Schaffer. With one swing of the bat, Schaffer picked up two more RBI on a line drive home run to left that exited the field in a hurry and Tulane was up 7-1 with Southern Miss down to their last three outs.
Garrett took to the hill in the bottom of the ninth, where the Golden Eagles picked up one run via solo shot from Brunty but true to form, Garrett sent the next batter back to the dugout with the K and the lead created by Tulane was not to be overcome by ninth inning efforts as Garrett picked up the complete game 7-2 victory. Tulane will look to keep up the momentum as they take on Southern Miss in game two of the series at 4PM Saturday at Pete Taylor Park.
