Baseball Splits Doubleheader with Air Force

Saturday, February 18

Greer Field at Turchin Stadium

1:00 p.m.

Tulane University

1-0

Air Force

1-1

Air Force

Tulane

Photo by: Parker Waters

Feb 18, 2017 | Baseball

Box Score

Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box

NEW ORLEANS – Seniors Jarret DeHart and Jeremy Montalbano each had three hits and a pair of RBI to lead Tulane Saturday, as the Green Wave opened the 2017 season with a doubleheader split with Air Force, winning 4-3, before dropping a 3-2 decision at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium.

The middle of the lineup generated much of Tulane's (1-1) offensive production Saturday. In the two games combined, DeHart went 3-for-5 with two RBI and three runs, while sophomore right fielder Grant Witherspoon was 3-for-4 with a solo home run, and senior first baseman Hunter Williams scored a run on two hits in the second game. Freshman shortstop Sal Gozzo knocked an RBI single in his first collegiate at bat, and started three double plays on the day.

"The starting pitching was quality and gave us a chance to win," Tulane head coach Travis Jewett said. "In that second game, I thought we had a chance to create some separation, we jumped out to a 2-0 lead early, but then we just kind of went stale after that. We just didn't really have a chance to do too much. When that happens, we just have to find ways to create some offense.

"I told the players after the first game, it's all about getting back to the middle. Yes, we won the first one, but can you get back to even, and come out and play a good game of baseball. We knew it was going to be a long day. Now, getting back to the middle is just on the other end of the spectrum. We have to rebound. It's all about tomorrow."

Senior right hander Corey Merrill (1-0) struck out four and allowed two earned runs on six hits and no walks in 7.0 innings of the opener to earn the win. Junior J.P. France struck out seven and gave up two runs on six hits and a walk in 7.0 innings of a no-decision start in Game 2.

Tulane closes the weekend against Army (0-3) at noon Sunday at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium. Free live video and live stats will be available at www.TulaneGreenWave.com. The game will be broadcast on 88.3 FM WRBH. Tickets can be purchased at the Tulane Athletics Ticket Office in the James W. Wilson Center.

Game 1: Tulane 4, Air Force 3

Tulane struck first, when sophomore right fielder Grant Witherspoon homered to right center field in the bottom of the first inning to give the Green Wave a 1-0 lead.

Air Force responded in the top of the second inning with a home run from Tyler Zabojnik to tie the score, but Tulane pushed a run across in the bottom of the second to regain the lead, 2-1. Freshman shortstop Sal Gozzo singled through the right side, earning his first collegiate hit and RBI, driving home Jarret DeHart from second base.

DeHart homered to deep right center on a 3-1 pitch to give Tulane the 3-2 after the Falcons tied the score 2-2 in the third. In the bottom of the fourth, senior center fielder Lex Kaplan scored on DeHart's sacrifice fly to left, and the Wave extended its lead to 4-2.

Air Force pulled within 4-3 in the sixth on a single to left field. Tulane starting pitcher Corey Merrill was relieved after seven innings, giving way to redshirt sophomore Brandon Issa. Issa tossed a scoreless eighth inning in relief, and junior transfer Ted Andrews closed out the game with a perfect ninth-inning in his Tulane debut.

Nick Biancalana pitched 4.1 innings, allowing four runs on five hits and five walks, in the start for Air Force. Ethan Nichols did not allow a hit in 3.2 innings of relief.

"I thought our starting pitching did a pretty good job," Jewett said. "I thought Andrews getting out there for the first time, he was solid. (Chase) Solesky was good too, as a freshman getting out there and getting his feet wet. I thought he was pretty good (in the second game)."

Game 2: Air Force 3, Tulane 2

The Green Wave scored single runs in the second and fourth innings to take a 2-0 lead behind starting pitcher J.P. France. Hunter Williams doubled down the left field line to start the second frame, and scored on Jeremy Montalbano's ground ball single through the right side. In the fourth, Jarret DeHart reached on a hit-by-pitch, and scored from first on a double to deep right by Montalbano.

France pitched 7.0 innings and allowed two runs. He surrendered only two hits in the first six frames and allowed just three baserunners to reach second base, two of which were by error.

Four of the eight Air Force hits came in the seventh. First baseman Bradley Haslem homered to left to start the inning, and three singles produced the tying run. Catcher Rob Dau singled home shortstop Tyler Zabojnik to make the score 2-2. In the eighth, right fielder Tyler Jones singled and stole second, then scored when Haslam's hit to left was misplayed.

Junior Sam Bjorngjeld relieved France in the eighth and recorded an out, before freshman Chase Solesky pitched the final 1.2 innings. Solesky struck out two batters and allowed a single in his first collegiate appearance.

Air Force starter Matt Hargreaves pitched a complete game, allowing seven hits, two runs and striking out 10 batters.

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Tulane 4, Air Force 3 (Feb 18, 2017 at New Orleans, La.) (Game 1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Air Force........... 011 001 000 - 3 7 0      (1-1)
Tulane.............. 110 110 00X - 4 5 1      (1-0)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Air Force - BIANCALANA, Nick; NICHOLS, Ethan(5) and DAU, Rob. Tulane -
MERRILL, Corey; ISSA, Brandon(8); ANDREWS, Ted(9) and MONTALBANO, Jeremy.
Win-MERRILL, Corey(1-0) Save-ANDREWS, Ted(1) Loss-BIANCALANA, Nick(0-1) T-2:19 A-0
HR AF - ZABOJNIK, Tyler (1).
HR TLN - WITHERSPOON, Grant; DeHART, Jarret.
Weather: 70 Ptly Cloudy, Wind:WNW@3mph

Air Force 3, Tulane 2 (Feb 18, 2017 at New Orleans, La.) (Game 2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Air Force........... 000 000 210 - 3 8 0      (2-1)
Tulane.............. 010 100 000 - 2 7 4      (1-1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Air Force - HARGREAVES, Matt and DAU, Rob. Tulane - FRANCE, J.P.; BJORNGJELD, Sam(8);
SOLESKY, Chase(8) and MONTALBANO, Jeremy.
Win-HARGREAVES, Matt(1-0) Loss-BJORNGJELD, Sam(0-1) T-2:18 A-2275
HR AF - HASLAM, Bradley (1).