Tulane cruises to series-opening win at Memphis, 16-3

MEMPHIS – The Tulane University baseball team (17-9-1) took down Memphis (12-10) by of score of 16-3 in its conference play opener on Friday night inside Fedexpark Avron Fogelman Field.

Freshman right-hander Grant Siegel was electric on the mound. In 7.0 innings of work he gave up six runs on three hits, only two earned, one walk and 9nine punch outs.

The Wave took a quick 2-0 lead in the first with Luis Aviles hitting a two-run homer scoring Ethan Groff who took a leadoff walk. Memphis would put up one run in the bottom of the first on an unearned run.

Memphis’ D Kendrick struggled in the third walking both Groff and Aviles to start the inning. Jackson Linn would double one out to left field to load the bases. Aviles tagged up on a flyout to center field off the bat of Bennet Lee. Simon Baumgardt reached first on a fielder’s choice. Chase Englehard got the Wave’s second homer of the night, scoring Baumgart.

Tulane added a run in the fourth. Trevor Minder got on base with a single out to center. Brady Hebert grounded one out to first before Aviles doubled one out to right-center, scoring Minder. Memphis wouldn’t be able to respond tallying two errors in the inning.

The fifth inning brought five runs on for hits for the Green Wave, with Memphis going three up and three down at the bottom of the inning.

Memphis would put up two runs in the bottom of the sixth but would remain down 12-3.

The Wave added four more runs to their total in the top of the eighth. Baumgardt would get hit by a wild pitch to get on base. Englehard singled one out to center before the Memphis pitching staff would walk Hart. Runners would advance on a wild pitch with Baumgardt scoring. Aviles would drive a double out to center field =, scoring Minder and Hart.

Clifton Slagel came in for Siegel in and pitched the final 1.2 innings allowing just one hit and striking out two to end the game.

UP NEXT: First pitch of game two is at 2:00 p.m. inside GFATS.