Tulane claims series with 10-0 win over UC Riverside

Nothing like a #SundayShutout @csolesky7 line was 🔥🔥
7️⃣ innings
1️⃣1️⃣ Strikeouts
1️⃣ Wall Slap #RollWave #NOLABuilt #SlapTheWall pic.twitter.com/6VaGnp2OSw

— Tulane Baseball (@GreenWaveBSB) March 17, 2019

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Starting pitcher Chase Solesky was perfect through 5.2 innings and struck out a career-high 11 batters, while the Tulane offense pounded out 10 runs on 13 hits to earn a 10-0 victory over the UC Riverside Highlanders to claim the series Sunday afternoon at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium.

The Green Wave (13-7) plated six runs in two of the first three innings to jut out to a sizeable lead Sunday, getting two more multi-run innings after that as the Highlanders (7-13) would be stifled to just four hits in the contest and never threaten the Tulane lead for the rest of the day.

“We needed to show up today and bury yesterday,” head coach Travis Jewett said. “Sometimes you can tell a lot about the guys and their preparation on days like this. We had the same kind of weather today, but our ball flights were better, our bunting was better and just a lot of other things were on point.”

Solesky (1-1) burned through the UC Riverside order in dominating fashion on Sunday, striking out the first seven batters and retiring 14 consecutive Highlander batters in succession to start the contest before finishing the day scattering a trio of hits with no walks in helping combine for the team’s first shutout of the season. C.J. Whelan and Connor Pellerin closed out the game pitching an inning each, combining for three strikeouts.

Sophomore Frankie Niemann continued his torrid pace at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Niemann hit his first career home run in the win, while roping his third double of the year as well on Sunday.

Making his first career start at Tulane, freshman infielder Collin Burns took advantage of his debut by going 2-for-4 with three RBI on a triple and a double. The team also got multiple hits from Kody Hoese, Hudson Haskin and Jonathon Artigues, who reached base in four of his five at bats with a triple, single, getting hit twice and swiping a pair of bases in the contest.

UC Riverside starter Jeremiah Priddy (0-3) lasted just 2.2 innings as he allowed six runs on eight hits with three walks and two strikeouts in the loss for the Highlanders.

With an out in the bottom of the second, Niemann singled through the left side for the first hit of the game. After a liner to left, Artigues singled to right to put runners at the corners for the Green Wave. After Artigues stole second, Burns one-hopped a triple off the wall in right to bring in both to put Tulane on the board 2-0.

Haskin opened the next inning with a single to left, moving over to second after a grounder to first base. Niemann got his second hit of the day and pushed the lead to four with his two-run shot to left. Artigues was hit by a pitch and stole second, with a walk to Burns putting two back on for Tulane.

Trevor Jensen poked one through the left side to score Artigues, and Hoese followed up with a single to left to left to bring in Burns to extend the Tulane lead to 6-0.

Artigues led off the fifth getting hit in his at-bat, moving to third after a wild pitch and fly out to left. Jensen hit a deep enough fly ball out to left to score Artigues and push the lead to 7-0. Hoese singled and stole second in the same inning, as an error at short allowed Hoese to score to put the Green Wave up eight.

Burns put a cap on the afternoon as he ripped a double to left center to score Artigues, who got on after a triple to center to start the inning, to push the Tulane lead to 9-0. Haskin brought in Burns for the final run of the game on a single through the left side of the infield to finish the scoring at 10-0 Green Wave.

Tulane will be back in action on Wednesday, hosting the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns at 6:30 p.m. at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium.

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