Baseball Looks to Right the Ship Against UCF
Apr 16, 2015 | Baseball
NEW ORLEANS - Tulane baseball will look to pick up their first American Athletic Conference series victory at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium over the weekend when they host UCF for a three-game series, beginning on Friday, April 17, at 6:30pm CT.
Game two of the series is scheduled for 2pm CT on Saturday, April 18, while the series finale will be Sunday, April 19, at 1pm CT. All three games will be broadcast on 88.3 FM WRBH, and live streaming audio and video will be made available to paid members of the Tulane All-Access Pass at TulaneGreenWave.com.
Tulane was set to play Southern Miss this past Tuesday, but weather postponed that contest until May 12. The last time Tulane hit the field was Sunday, April 12, when Alex Massey pitched a two-hit, complete game in a 3-1 victory to avoid a sweep at the hands of nationally-ranked Houston after dropping tilts to the Cougars on Friday and Saturday. On the season, Tulane boasts an overall record of 22-14, and 3-6 in league play.
UCF dropped a 4-2 contest at Miami on Wednesday, April 15, after losing two of three last weekend to UConn in Orlando. UCF lost the previous weekend series to Cincinnati after opening league play with a series win against Houston. On the year, the Knights are 25-13 overall and 4-5 in The American.
Tulane sophomore Stephen Alemais continues to pace the squad with a .324 batting average, while senior John Gandolfo has remained hot, hitting .310 on the year. Alemais picked up his 19th stolen base of the season over the weekend, the most by a Tulane player in a single season since Josh Prince swiped 48 in 2009.
UCF is a top-ten hitting team in the nation, as the Knights hold a .305 team batting average, led by Tommy Williams (.372), Dylan Moore (.354) and Erik Barber (.336). The Knights lead the nation in home runs with 50, thanks in part to Moore's nine. Seven other players on the team have four or more homers. The Knights, however, hold a team ERA of 4.81, and are allowing hitters to bat .264.
Tulane will keep the same weekend rotation against UCF with sophomore Corey Merrill (1-3, 2.25 ERA, 45 Ks), junior Emerson Gibbs (3-1, 2.62 ERA, 31 Ks) and Massey (3-2, 3.10 ERA, 40 Ks). UCF will send freshman righty Cre Finfrock (6-2, 3.08 ERA, 43 Ks) to the mound on Friday, but have yet to determine starters for the final two games.
During each game during the UCF series, Tulane's Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will be collecting money in the concourse of Greer Field at Turchin Stadium for their new initiative, Waves for Wisdom. The initiative aims to raise money to provide school supplies to the less privileged hometowns of Green Wave student-athletes. The money raised this weekend will be used to purchase calculators for students in Kitale, Republic of Kenya, the hometown of Tulane cross country and track and field student-athlete Moses Aloiloi.
On Friday, the first 250 fans into Greer Field at Turchin Stadium will receive a Tulane Mini-Bat. Should Tulane score four runs in the contest, fans will be able to buy one, get one free combo at participating Raising Canes restaurants in the Greater New Orleans area as part of the Canes Challenge.
On Saturday, there will be special performances throughout the game by the ZOOperstars!. Additionally, there will be oil change giveaways from Car Doc on Friday and Saturday. Fans will also be allowed to receive $4 off each service with their ticket stub at Car Doc.
On Sunday, there will be Kids Day, which gives members of the Riptide's Kids Club the opportunity to stand next to their favorite player during the national anthem while also running the bases postgame. To sign your child up for the Riptide's Kids Club, call 504-247-1238 or visit the Tulane Marketing Tent on the main concourse at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium.
The sixth set of Tulane baseball trading cards will be passed out on Sunday, as well. Players, coaches and staff featured on the cards will be available for postgame autographs.
Tickets to any home Tulane baseball game, or any other Green Wave sporting event, can be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283). Tickets can also be purchased by visiting the James W. Wilson, Jr. Center's first floor ticket office.
Fans can follow the Tulane baseball program on Twitter (@GreenWaveBSB) or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/GreenWaveBaseball.
