This article was originally written on April 16. The Green Wave is now 24-17, 8-7 in AAC play.
These first weeks of April have been a rough mix of ups and downs for the Tulane University Green Wave baseball team. After enduring a punishing five-game skid marked by ineffective offense and shaky pitching, this unbreakable team rediscovered its rhythm in a whirlwind of resilience, power hitting and late-inning drama.
Tulane — 17-11, 2-4 American Athletic Conference at the time — began their recent stretch on a sour note, suffering a three-game sweep at the hands of the University of South Florida. The opener saw the Wave shut out for the first time all season in a 3-0 loss, despite a gritty outing from Luc Fladda and a lockdown bullpen performance. The bats remained largely silent, managing just two hits off USF’s complete-game maestro Corey Braun.
Game two brought more offense but no relief, as Tulane dropped an 8-6 battle despite Jackson Linn’s three RBIs. A relentless USF rally in the fifth, capped by a three-run home run from Lance Trippel, proved too much to overcome. In the finale, the Bulls poured it on in a 10-3 rout, handing Tulane their fourth straight loss. Freshman William Good provided a silver lining, launching his first career homer in the ninth.
Following up, a midweek trip to No. 23, the University of Southern Mississippi, didn’t bring reprieve. Tulane was blitzed for eight runs in the first inning and never recovered in a 13-6 loss. Despite strong games from Hugh Pinkney with three hits and Jason Wachs with three RBIs, the Wave couldn’t contain the Eagles’ power.
Returning home on April 2, Tulane snapped the skid with an 8-4 victory over Northwestern State University. James Agabedis III starred with a career-high four RBIs. Tulane’s best response to the skid, however, came in conference play. The Green Wave swept Rice University in a three-game series that showcased both dominant pitching and explosive offense. Game one was highlighted by Hugh Pinkney’s grand slam, pushing Tulane to a 7-5 win. Saturday’s doubleheader was a tour de force. In the opener, the Wave notched 20 hits to a 10-3 win.
In game two, Matthias Haas played hero with a walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth, capping a dramatic 6-5 victory and clinching the sweep. The Rice series marked a turning point. Will Clements struck out a career-high 10 in game two. Tulane pitchers fanned a staggering 28 batters in the doubleheader, pushing the staff’s season total of double-digit strikeout games to 19.
Momentum stalled slightly against Southeastern Louisiana University. Tulane blew a 3-0 lead and gave up 10 walks in a 7-3 loss. Despite Gavin Schulz’s multi-hit night and a carousel of nine pitchers, the Wave fell flat in a midweek stumble.
But do not fret, folks, hope is not lost, as the Green Wave regrouped in a conference clash against the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Fladda shined in game one with a dominant seventh-inning outing in a 7-1 win. The Blazers knotted the series on Saturday with a 4-1 victory as Tulane left the bases loaded late.
Looking ahead, Tulane — 23-14, 7-5 AAC — now prepares for the Pelican Cup rematch against the University of New Orleans before continuing its AAC campaign. With Haas riding an 11-game hitting streak and Montiel earning his first save, the Wave seems to have rediscovered its groove just in time for the stretch run.