Tulane University
UAB
Tulane Finishes Strong in 9-8 Victory Over UAB
May 9, 2009 | Baseball
May 9, 2009
NEW ORLEANS- After a marathon battle Friday night, Tulane knew they would have another fight on their hands Saturday afternoon as they took on UAB in game two of the Conference USA series. But after falling behind 4-0 headed into the bottom of the fourth, the Green Wave came all the way back with the help of some timely hitting, solid pitching efforts and by mixing in some defensive gems to knock off the Blazers 9-8 in exciting fashion.
Preston Claiborne picked up the win for the Green Wave to improve to 3-2, while Nick Pepitone earned his eighth save to improve the club's record to 29-22 and 10-10 in C-USA.
"Preston pitched the best he's pitched out of the bullpen in a long time," head coach Rick Jones said. "Nick Pepitone showed you the kind of pitcher he is when that sinker is really going today. That was dominant. Josh Prince made a great play. We got the ground ball and he kept it in the infield and we got the out, that was a great play. Obviously Jeremy Schaffer's homerun got us back in the ballgame."
Things got off to a rocky start for Tulane when UAB posted four unanswered runs headed into the bottom of the fourth. But the Green Wave chipped away at the Blazer lead, putting up a run in the fourth when Jeremy Schaffer opened up with a triple to straightaway centerfield. Seth Henry followed with a walk and stole second to get into scoring position for Drew Allain. Allain picked up the RBI on an infield single, scoring Schaffer, with Henry moving to third on a error by the Blazer shortstop. Designated hitter Jared Dyer reached on a base on balls to load the bases for Nick Boullosa. Boullosa hit the ball hard at Jonathan Merritt at short and the Blazers defender tired to roll a pair but had to settle for retiring Dyer, as Boullosa beat out the throw, scoring Henry on the play. With runners at the corners in Allain and Boullosa, Josh Prince stepped in. Boullosa was on the move but the errant throw to second allowed Allain score and Tulane was closing in 4-3.
The Blazers got one back in the top of the fifth when Brint Hardy reached on a walk. He stole second, moving him into scoring position for Merritt, who delivered the RBI knock, making it 5-3 in favor of UAB. Ryan Doiron, who had entered the contest following the walk to Hardy, worked through the jam with the help of his defense. With runners at second and third and one out, Honeck fielded the ground ball and went home to get Merritt, who was running on the play. Schaffer applied the tag for the second out of the inning while Luke Stewart reached on the fielders' choice. Doiron retired Taylor with Boullosa snagging the line drive to center to end the inning with the Blazers up 5-3.
UAB broke the game open in the top of the sixth, putting up three runs to extend their lead 8-3. Allen Aubin led off after taking a pitch in the numbers. He moved to second on a passed ball. Jamal Austin hit a chopper to third and the throwing error allowed UAB to get runners at second and third with no outs. Nick Crawford picked up the RBI on a sac fly, scoring Aubin. Austin took third on a passed ball, and later scored on Hardy's fielder's choice, a comebacker to Doiron. Doiron lost his footing on the hot turf and everybody was safe as he tried to get Austin at the plate but the Blazers picked up the run and it was 7-3. The Green Wave got the second out of the inning on a fly ball to center from Merritt but Cody McMurry singled in Hardy and the Blazers enjoyed a 8-3 lead. Claiborne entered the contest for Tulane and went to work, getting the final out of the inning but UAB had extended their lead by five.
Tulane added a run in the sixth when Henry reached on the base on balls, as did Moritz. Henry moved to third on a double play ball and crossed the pay station on a wild pitch and it was 8-4 after six full. Claiborne kept the Blazer bats at bay in the top of the seventh, tossing two strikeouts and getting a ground ball out to keep UAB scoreless in the frame.
"It completely boosted my confidence as soon as we started to get more and more runs," Claiborne said. The junior righty had struggled over his last few outings and was pleased with his efforts today. "I went through a string of real bad luck," Claiborne said. "But I thank Coach Jones and Coach Cressend for keep believing in me and running me out there."
Prince (2-5, 2B) opened the seventh with a double off the wall and moved to third on a wild pitch. Prince added to the runs column on Powell's ground ball to the right side and it was 8-5. Honeck picked up a walk and Schaffer (2-5, 2 RBI) followed, taking the 1-0 count over the left field wall and with that swing of the bat, Tulane closed the gap to one, 8-7 through seven.
Claiborne continued to hold UAB scoreless in the top of the eighth and Tulane seemed to have something going in the bottom of the eighth when Dyer got the free pass. Boullosa sacrificed him over to second and Dyer moved to third on Prince's ground ball. Prince legged it out and with runners at the corners, UAB pitcher Colin McMurry balked to send Dyer across the plate as the tying run, and moving Prince to scoring position for Powell. Powell (2-5, 2 RBI) worked the count full and with Prince on the move, the senior outfielder sent a ground ball through the left side. Prince leapt over the ball, rounded third and crossed the dish as the go-ahead run, 9-8.
UAB made things exciting, as Manning singled to center to open the top of the ninth. That would end Claiborne's outing, with Jones calling on Nick Pepitone to reliever Claiborne. Pepitone got the ground ball, with Prince making the stop up the middle and flipping to Henry to get Manning. The relay throw wasn't in time, as Stewart was safe at first. Pepitone followed, tossing a chair to Taylor for the second out of the inning. Tulane switched things up on defense, bringing Matt Ryan in to play second, while Henry moved over to the hot corner at third as Aubin stepped in. Pepitone worked ahead, going 0-2 before just missing inside to go 1-2. Pepitone came right at him and put Aubin in the book to pick up his eighth save and give Tulane the emotional 9-8 win.
The Mother's Day finale will take place Sunday at 1PM at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium.
