Tulane downs Memphis, 7-1 in Game 1 of doubleheader

Aldrich strikes out a career-high nine batters

NEW ORLEANS – Junior lefthander Jack Aldrich struck out a career-high nine batters to propel the Tulane University baseball team to a 7-1 victory over the University of Memphis in game one of its doubleheader on Friday.

Memphis jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, as it capitalized on a double steal, but that was all the Tigers could muster on an afternoon where Aldrich was in total command throughout his 7.0 innings of work. Aldrich scattered four hits, allowed just two walks and one earned run in the 26 batters he faced.

“I was able to work faster than I normally do and I think that helped me a lot, but I also think that helped our defense a lot,” Aldrich said. “When I know I have my defense behind me, it really helps me stay really confident on the mound. The strikeouts are nice, but knowing that I have a really good defense behind me is way more important.”

Memphis threatened to score in the second, but the Green Wave kept the Tigers off the board, as Tulane centerfielder Jared Hart threw out UM shortstop Ben Brooks at the plate.

Aldrich then retired 13 of the next 15 batters.

“Getting the first one for us and it really instills the confidence in us that we can really win,” Aldrich said. “We can win in a lot of different ways, but when we score seven runs and only give up one, that’s a really good formula for us. When I can pitch to contact like I did today, it really gives me a lot of confidence.”

Junior Luis Aviles led the way offensively for the Green Wave as he had three RBI and a pair of doubles.

Teammates Collin Burns, Jacob LaPrairie and Bennett Lee also collected two hits. Offensively as a team, Tulane collected 12 hits, marking the 10th time this season the Green Wave have totaled 10-or-more hits.

Tulane got its offense going in the bottom half of the first inning, as it plated three runs in the frame. Aviles had the big hit of the inning, as he blasted a double to left center field which scored LaPrairie and Burns.

The Green Wave would strike again in the second with a pair of runs to make the count 5-1. Burns and Lee both had RBI singles in the inning.

Aviles would later strike again in the eighth inning, as he connected on his second double of the game which plated Lee.

UP NEXT
Tulane continues its series with Memphis in game two.

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