Roper strikes out 12 as Tulane opens series with 6-2 win over HBU

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Tulane senior pitcher Kaleb Roper struck out a career-best 12 batters, as the offense got just enough push in key moments to earn a 6-2 series-opening win over the Houston Baptist University Huskies Friday night at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium.

Looking to get one more solid performance under his belt before conference play opens next week for the team, Roper (3-2) went 7.2 innings and did not walk a single batter in scattering five hits and allowing just two runs. At one point in the night the local product retired 16 consecutive batters from the end of the second inning until midway through the seventh in keeping the Huskies (5-16) bats quiet.

“He was on point tonight,” head coach Travis Jewett said. “I’m real proud of him. He just continues moving his game North and he’s becoming one heck of a pitcher.”

Nothing like a Friday night 💎
Kaleb Roper:
7️⃣ 2/3 innings
1️⃣2️⃣ Strikeouts
0️⃣ Walks #RollWave #NOLABuilt pic.twitter.com/6jj3KschvR

— Tulane Baseball (@GreenWaveBSB) March 23, 2019

Tulane (15-7) didn’t have its typical high-powered offensive night but wouldn’t need it as the squad got timely hits when it counted scoring a combined four runs over the course of the second and third frames, and a bit of insurance with two more runs in the seventh.

Kody Hoese blasted his 11th home run of the season Friday night, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored, as Frankie Niemann drove in two on his only hit of the night coming on a double to give Tulane the lead it wouldn’t give back.

HBU starter Zach Cater allowed six runs, five earned, on seven hits in the game as at times he was able to keep the Green Wave offense on their toes for much of his seven innings. But Carter wouldn’t be able to get past three walks in tough spots that the Huskies wouldn’t be able to get out of.

A suicide squeeze brought in the first run of the game for the visitors in the top of the second, as Tulane took to the bottom of the inning using a throwing error that allowed Hudson Haskin to reach first base. After an out, a pair of walks loaded the bases for the Green Wave, leaving the stage for Collin Burns to hit a deep enough fly to right to score Haskin and tie the game at 1-1 on the sacrifice fly.

With an out the very next inning, Hoese hit one high into the twilight sky that dropped between infielders to reach on a double. Grant Mathews did the same thing with a single between infielders in left to put two on for Tulane.

A walk to Haskin loaded the bases, and with an 0-1 count on the board Niemann ripped one to dead center to bring in two to make it 3-1 Green Wave. A wild pitch allowed another run to score to give Tulane a 4-1 advantage.

Sal Gozzo doubled down the line in right to open the Tulane seventh, and Hoese put the game effectively out of reach with a shot off the scoreboard to make it a 6-1 game.

Roper would get midway through the eighth before giving way to closer Connor Pellerin, who came on after HBU would plate a run on two hits earlier in the inning getting the final out to keep the Huskies from getting anything further, closing the door in the ninth by retiring the side in order with a trio of strikeouts to secure the win.

Tulane goes for the series victory Saturday in game two with first pitch set for 2 p.m. at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium.