Green Wave Baseball starts off strong, plummets with series loss at WSU
Senior Matt Rowland comes up to bat in a matchup against the ULL Ragin’ Cajuns. Tulane will be looking to rebound from its recent series loss this coming weekend in a three-game tussle with the Houston Cougars.
Tulane baseball’s recent struggles continued this past weekend in its three-game series against the Wichita State Shockers. The Green Wave took the first game of the weekend but faltered in the following two, ultimately dropping the series 1-2.
Following a three-game losing streak in the midst of what has been a difficult season for Tulane, the Green Wave came out roaring on Friday afternoon. Scoring a season-high 19 runs in a game in which every starter crossed home base, Tulane dismantled Wichita State, ending the game after only seven innings due to a conference mercy rule.
Plating runs in each of the first four innings, Tulane blew the game open with an 11-run second inning. The Shockers’ defense certainly let down its pitching staff, committing seven total errors for the game. The Green Wave scored all 19 of its runs without a single home run, scattering five doubles across its 17 total hits throughout the course of the game. Tulane overcame unfavorable weather conditions in a 19-4 win to upset the Shockers, who are ranked No. 20 in the nation.
Things did not continue to go as smoothly for the Green Wave as the weekend series went on. In Saturday’s second game of the series, the Shockers got off to a hot start, scoring four runs in the third inning, and continued to hold the lead until the final out. The game’s defining moment came when WSU catcher Gunnar Troutwine smacked a two-run RBI double to give the Shockers a 3-0 lead. The Green Wave offense remained next-to dormant until the ninth inning, when it was able to load the bases. This was too little, too late: the Wave was only able to plate two runs and ultimately took the 9-3 loss.
The Green Wave’s offensive woes continued on Sunday, as the team lost the final match and series to the Shockers. Despite the offensive efforts of outfielders Grant Witherspoon and Tyler Heinrichs, Wichita State took a commanding lead after a three-run first inning and never looked back. Tulane hitters struggled to make contact against all four of the Shockers’ pitchers, as the team totaled 12 strikeouts in the 8-2 loss.
The Green Wave will look to rebound when it hosts the University of Houston for a three-game series this coming weekend.
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