No. 20 Tulane takes first of two with Lamar, 14-12

Wild one here at Turchin Stadium take a look.
⬇️⬇️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/jZbmv5gekA

— Tulane Green Wave (@TulaneAthletics) March 11, 2020

NEW ORLEANS, La. – The #20-ranked Tulane University Green Wave overcame a five-run first inning deficit, extending their winning streak to eight games and defeating the Lamar University Cardinals by a score of 14-12 on a rain-soaked Tuesday night at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium.

Tulane (14-2) trailed three times on the night but rallied back each time. Grant Mathews tallied three runs batted in on a career-high four hits, while Jonathon Artigues added four more runs batted in to pace a Green Wave offense that overcame 17 hits from Lamar (7-9), scoring 14 on 13 hits to extend the winning streak to eight games.

“In a game like that, you don’t ever know. And our kids keep playing,” coach Travis Jewett said. “They [Lamar] helped us, but we controlled the strike zone and we were able to get some free passes and get some guys on base. Then we were able to get some big hits.”

Clifton Slagel started on the mound for Tulane, but his string of 12 scoreless innings to begin the season ended after a five-run first. Chris Holcomb (1-1) relieved Slagel, hurling five innings with seven strikeouts. Holcomb allowed four runs but retired 12 consecutive batters between the second and sixth innings. Grant Segar took over for a perfect seventh. Justin Campbell and Keagan Gillies held Lamar in the eighth, before Gillies (4) recorded the save.

Big time performance from @ChrisHolcombD! #SlapTheWall #RollWave pic.twitter.com/4mehT1adDR

— Tulane Baseball (@GreenWaveBSB) March 11, 2020

Cole Girouard had three hits and two runs batted in for the visitors, while Anthony Quirion drove in five runs in the loss.

In the top of the first inning, Slagel surrendered his first runs of the season. Lamar had six consecutive hits to lead off the game, including a two-run home run from Chase Kemp to jump out to a 5-0 lead.

Facing an early hole, the Green Wave characteristically fought back in the bottom of the inning. Ty Johnson and Hudson Haskin hustled for consecutive doubles to score Tulane’s first run before Trevor Minder pushed Haskin to third base with a hit. Mathews doubled to left center field, a fourth consecutive hit, to plate a second run. Luis Aviles drove in Minder on a groundout, and Frankie Niemann scored Mathews for a fourth run.

Collin Burns came to the plate with two runners in scoring position and laced a replay reviewed double that grazed the left field line to score two more runs and put the Wave ahead 6-5 after one inning.

Lamar piled on more offense in the second inning, collecting three runs on four hits. The Cardinals loaded the bases for Anthony Quirion, who rifled the first pitch down the right field line for a three-run double and his fifth run batted in over the first two innings.

Tulane held Lamar off the board in the third and fourth before tying up the ballgame in the fourth inning.

Minder and Mathews singled and Niemann walked to load the bases for Artigues. The redshirt senior stung the first pitch of his at bat through the middle of the infield, scoring two runs to drag the Green Wave back to 8-8.

The game remained knotted until the top of the sixth inning. Jose Cintron singled a stole second base before Cole Girouard drove him home with a single to claim a 9-8 lead.

Once again, Tulane immediately bounced back to take the lead in the bottom half of the sixth. Mathews and Aviles singled to set the table for Artigues. The second baseman drove a 3-2 pitch down the right field foul line, scoring both baserunners and pushing Tulane back in front 10-9.

In the seventh inning, Tulane extended the lead after a leadoff walk to Johnson brought Mathews to the plate. Mathews connected with his fourth hit of the night, a towering two-run blast to right center.

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED! Grant Mathews has a fix for that. #RollWave pic.twitter.com/baKc2Ef20h

— Tulane Baseball (@GreenWaveBSB) March 11, 2020

After Lamar added a run in the top of the inning, Tulane scored two more runs in the eighth on bases loaded walks to Haskin and Minder to make the score 14-10.

The visitors pushed two more across in the ninth, but Gillies closed the door for the save.

“Obviously we took a punch in that first inning, but we never worried,” said Mathews. “We know what we can do at the plate and we had some very competitive at bats to start us off in that first inning and I thought that really set the tone for us at the dish.”

Mathews’ home run gave him three home runs, joint-most on the team, and team-high 20 runs batted in on the season.

Up Next
Tulane closes its midweek series against Lamar on Wednesday with a 6:30 first pitch at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium.

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