Cougars Use Late-Inning Comeback to Down Wave

Saturday, May 13

New Orleans

6 PM

Tulane University

14-36, 0

Houston

30-20, 0

Houston

Tulane

Ricky Castro is greeted by his teammates after another good performance Saturday.

Cougars Use Late-Inning Comeback to Down Wave

May 13, 2023 | Baseball

Box Score

FINAL STATS

NEW ORLEANS – Visiting Houston scored twice in the eighth inning and got the go-ahead run in the ninth to lock down a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over Tulane Saturday evening on Greer Field at Turchin Stadium.

The Cougars, who improved to 30-20 overall and 14-5 in the American Athletic Conference, will go for the sweep in the final game of the series on Sunday (1 p.m.). The Green Wave fell to 14-36 and 7-13 in the league.

Justin Murray (4-0) got the victory as he was perfect for two innings, whiffing three Green Wave batters. He got it done at the plate as well, going 4-for-4. Houston's pitchers allowed just four Tulane hits and that was enough to offset eight free passes on the evening.

Tulane reliever Michael Lombardi (0-2) recorded just one out and was tagged with the loss, as he surrendered the game-winning (unearned) run. Starer Ricky Castro got the no-decision but turned in another solid outing, giving up two runs on six hits with six strikeouts and one walk.

Green Wave left fielder Brady Hebert cleared the bases in the bottom of the second with a three-run double to left center to draw first blood for the home team. He later scored on a single by center fielder Teo Banks and Tulane found itself staked to a 4-0 lead.

Shortstop Ian McMillan put UH on the board in the fifth inning with a two-run home run down the left field line to cut the deficit in half.

With the game tied at 4-apiece through eight innings, third baseman Zach Arnold reached on a catcher's interference call, pushing Alex Lopez to second. Murray was then hit by a Lombardi pitch to load the bases. That set the stage for a sacrifice fly to right center by left fielder Cameron Nickens for the game-winning tally, as Lopez raced home.

Hebert's double was his team-leading 14th of the season.

Tulane's program will recognize seven seniors prior to the start of Sunday's game. Fans can access those in-game links here:

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