Linn’s walk-off blast sends Tulane to AAC title, second straight NCAA bid

WOWOWOWOW THE CHAMPIONSHIP WALK OFF!!!

JACKSON LINN WINS IT FOR THE GREEN WAVE!!!!! #AmericanBSB x @GreenWaveBSB pic.twitter.com/94fBVhxNfj

— The American (@American_Conf) May 26, 2024

CLEARWATER, FL – Tulane left fielder Jackson Linn drilled a 433-foot solo blast to left center to give the Green Wave its second consecutive American Athletic Conference Tournament championship with an 11-10 win over Wichita State Sunday afternoon at BayCare Ballpark.

The third-seeded Green Wave improved to 35-24 and will learn its NCAA Tournament destination on the NCAA’s Monday Selection Show, which will be carried at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN2. The bracket’s host sites will be announced Sunday evening at 7:30 p.m. CT.

Fourth-seeded Wichita State finished the season at 32-29.

Linn finished the day with two homers and a team-high three runs scored to earn the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player honor. Joining him on the All-Tournament team was center fielder Teo Banks, first baseman Brady Marget, pitcher Billy Price, third baseman Gavin Schulz and catcher Colin Tuft.

Marget, Schulz and Tuft also homered Sunday with Marget and Schulz combining for five hits and seven RBI.

The Shockers received homers from first baseman Josh Livingston and right fielder Seth Stroh. Those two made the All-Tourney team as well, along with shortstop Kam Durnin, left fielder Lane Haworth and pitcher Caden Favors.

Haworth went 3-for-5 and Livingston drove in three runs on Sunday.

Tulane’s Luc Fladda (4-3), normally the program’s Friday starter, came on in relief and was superb, getting five outs and ringing up three Shockers hitters.

Wichita State’s Hunter Holmes, who gave up Linn’s second blast, dropped to 1-4 on the season.

The Green Wave turned four double plays on the day.

The win gave Tulane its sixth-straight AAC Tournament victory, which is a conference record. Tulane is now not only the conference’s first back-to-back champion but the Wave also earned its first back-to-back tournament championship since 1998 and 1999 as members of Conference USA.

In all, this is the program’s 10th conference tournament title and 23rd appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

In 13 career games, Banks is hitting .500 (27-for-54) at the AAC Tournament.

This was the first walkoff in the history of the AAC title game.

2024 American Baseball Championship presented by Regions
BayCare Ballpark | Clearwater, Fla.
Championship Central

Most Outstanding Player
Jackson Linn, Tulane

All-Championship Team
Teo Banks, OF, Tulane
Jackson Linn, OF, Tulane
Brady Marget, IF, Tulane
Billy Price, P, Tulane
Gavin Schulz, IF, Tulane
Colin Tuft, C, Tulane
Kam Durnin, IF, Wichita State
Caden Favors, P, Wichita State
Lane Haworth, OF, Wichita State
Josh Livingston, IF, Wichita State
Seth Stroh, OF, Wichita State

Schedule
Tuesday, May 21
Game 1: No. 4 Wichita State 8, No. 5 UAB 2 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 2: No. 1 East Carolina 12, No. 8 Rice 4 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 3: No. 7 Charlotte 9, No. 2 UTSA 5 (12 innings) | Box Score | Highlights
Game 4: No. 3 Tulane 14, No. 6 Florida Atlantic (7 innings) | Box Score | Highlights

Wednesday, May 22
Game 5: Rice 9, UAB 0 (UAB Eliminated) | Box Score | Highlights
Game 6: Florida Atlantic 12, UTSA 5 (UTSA eliminated) | Box Score | Highlights

Thursday, May 23
Game 7: Wichita State 14, East Carolina 4 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 8: Tulane 7, Charlotte 5 | Box Score | Highlights

Friday, May 24
Game 9: East Carolina 8, Rice 7 (Rice Eliminated) | Box Score | Highlights
Game 10: Florida Atlantic 10, Charlotte 8 (Charlotte Eliminated) | Box Score | Highlights

Saturday, May 25
Game 11: East Carolina 5, Wichita State 4 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 12: Tulane 13, Florida Atlantic 1 (7 innings) (Florida Atlantic Eliminated) | Box Score | Highlights
Game 13: Wichita State 12, East Carolina 2 (7 innings) (East Carolina Eliminated) | Box Score | Highlights

Sunday, May 26
Game 15: Tulane 11, Wichita State 10 | Box Score | Highlights