Baseball Drops Series Opener to Cal State Fullerton, 9-3

Friday, March 2

Greer Field at Turchin Stadium

6:30 p.m.

Tulane University

5-4

Cal State Fullerton

2-7

Cal State Fullerton

Tulane

Photo by: Parker Waters

Baseball Drops Series Opener to Cal State Fullerton, 9-3

Mar 2, 2018 | Baseball

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NEW ORLEANS – Tulane baseball could not overcome a five-run first inning by Cal State Fullerton, as the Green Wave dropped the series opener, 9-3, Friday evening at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium.

Tulane (5-4) trailed 7-0 by the seventh inning when it plated three runs on an RBI double by sophomore shortstop Sal Gozzo and a pinch-hit two-run single by sophomore Grant Mathews to cut it to 7-3. The Titans (2-7) added single runs in the second and fifth innings, and two runs in the ninth.

"For the first time this season we found ourselves in a pretty deep hole, against obviously a very good opponent and a good pitcher," Tulane head coach Travis Jewett said. "I was hoping that we'd get a little bit more of a picket fence attack, just trying to get a little bit here and there to try to shorten the gap. But the innings just got away from us, and next thing you know, we're running out of at bats. I don't think that's us. We're going to be upset about it tonight, but we're going to need to come out punching tomorrow."

In the seventh inning Tulane strung together enough offense to push three runs across the plate. In the first six innings the Green Wave hit four singles, all of which were stranded at second base.

With one out, senior designated player Matt Rowland reached on a bobbled ball at third base and junior catcher Acy Owen walked. Gozzo then drilled a double to right center field to plate Rowland and put runners at second and third. Mathews followed with a base hit back up the middle to score both Owen and Gozzo to make the score 7-3.

Junior left fielder Ty Johnson had two of those early singles, in the fourth and sixth innings. Sophomore second baseman Jonathon Artigues and junior right fielder Tyler Heinrichs accounted for the other two base hits, in the first and third frames, respectively. Gozzo, 2-for-4 in the game, also doubled down the right field line with one out in the ninth inning.

Cal State Fullerton loaded the bases in the first inning on a single and two walks, and scored runs on a walk, hit batter, two-run single by third baseman Jake Pavletich and a bunt single by shortstop Sahid Valenzuela. Right fielder Ruban Cardenas tripled in the second inning and scored on a groundout by first baseman Jace Chamberlin. Catcher Daniel Cope hit a solo home run in the sixth to make the score 7-0. The Titans added two more runs in the top of the ninth on a pair of wild pitches.

Tulane junior starter Kaleb Roper (0-2) absorbed the loss, while Fullerton starter Colton Eastman (1-1) earned the win. Sophomore Trent Johnson pitched 3.0 scoreless innings in relief for the Wave.

Tulane and Cal State Fullerton continue the series with Game 2 at 2 p.m. Saturday at Turchin Stadium. Tickets can be purchased at TulaneTix.com or in person at the Tulane Athletics Ticket Office in the James W. Wilson Jr. Center. Saturday's game will be streamed online and can be heard on 88.3 FM WRBH or via TuneIn Radio.

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