Tulane University baseball came out of the gates fast to win three of their first four games against Northwestern University and another over Nicholls State University. 

The wins are feeding into fans’ enthusiasm for what this team can be. However, the Green Wave did not build off that early success: The University of California, Irvine swept them away in a three-game series, dampening those hopes. 

With such an uneven start to the season, many looked to their past five games for some clarity. 

Tulane responded. The Wave won each of their past five games, including a three-game sweep over Yale University. Star center fielder Teo Banks had a frustrating start to the season, with just a .143 batting average and seven hits so far. But the rest of the crew has stepped up. 

Jackson Linn is behind much of the Wave’s success this season. Linn, a junior out of Boston, has been on a tear to start the season with an outstanding .481 batting average, 13 hits and 3 home runs already. Linn has been “Mr. Reliable” for the Wave thus far and is making an early statement for an All-Conference award.

Graduate student and Bowling Green State transfer Nathan Rose had a solid start to the season as well. Rose is also coming off his best game of the season, with three hits, 3 runs, two RBIs and 1 home run. On the season, Rose is sporting a respectable .333 batting average as well as 13 hits. Rose has been a welcome sight to the Green Wave lineup this year and his spectacular performance in the win over Nicholls is a great sign for things to come.

Another breakout performer this season is sophomore second baseman Connor Rasmussen, who has broken onto the scene in New Orleans. A transfer from East Carolina University, Rasmussen has made a huge jump already, leading the team with 12 runs scored and 14 RBIs, to go along with 11 hits and 2 homers. He has brought a spark to the team early, and it’ll be interesting to see if he can keep it up.

While superstar Banks conjured most of the excitement around the Green Wave entering this season, surprisingly, the supporting cast has led the team to a strong start.  However, for the Wave to reach its potential this season and make another run at the NCAA Baseball Championship, it needs Banks to return to form. The Wave still has over two weeks until conference play starts, and all eyes will be on Banks to find his footing.

Tulane baseball keeps the season rolling against Grambling State University at home on Wednesday, March 6, before hitting the road for a three-game series against the University of Louisiana at Lafayette on March 8.