Tulane downs Memphis in series opener for 7th straight victory

Freshman Bennett Lee smashes a season-high four hits

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Tulane University baseball team (18-13; 7-1 AAC) continued its winning ways in game one of its doubleheader with the University of Memphis (12-23; 2-11), taking down the down the Tigers 13-2 at FedEx Park Friday afternoon.

Tulane finished the game with 18 hits, four doubles and a pair of home runs to pick up its seventh straight win. The Green Wave have now collected 10-or-more hits in 14 games this season. Tulane’s 18 hits are its second highest total this year.

Freshman catcher Bennett Lee and sophomore shortshop Collin Burns continued to swing hot bats for the Green Wave, as the duo combined for seven hits. Lee collected four hits and drove in three runs, while Burns had three hits and scored three runs. In addition, Burns and Lee extended their respective hitting streaks to 14 and 11 games, respectively.

Freshman Chase Engelhard also had a strong afternoon at the plate, as he collected a double and a home run, finishing with a game-high four RBI. Right fielder Simon Baumgardt also chipped in with three hits.

Junior right-hander Braden Olthoff picked up the win for the Green Wave after he worked 7.0 innings. In those 7.0 innings, the California native struck out eight, allowed just one earned run and did not walk a batter.

Tulane got the scoring going in the third, as it plated three runs on four hits. Burns got the inning going, as he doubled to left field. Freshman Jacob LaPrairie followed with a single to right field. Lee drove in Burns with a single right field, beating the Memphis defensive shift.

Engelhard drove in the Green Wave’s next run thanks to a sacrifice fly to right field which scored LaPrairie from third base. Tulane then extended its lead to 3-0 after junior Walker Burchfield legged out an infield single.

Tulane struck again in the fourth, as Burns smashed a solo home run over the right field scoreboard to give the Green Wave a 4-0 lead.

Memphis added a run in the fourth, but the Green Wave responded in the fifth with a run of their own thanks to a solo shot over the left field wall by Engelhard to make the count 5-1.

The Tigers added another run in the bottom of the sixth, but the Green Wave responded with two runs in the eighth to make the count 7-2. Lee and collected his third of the game in the frame and drove in his second RBI of the game. Frankie Niemann also chipped in with a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in a run.

Tulane would go on to tag six more runs on the Tigers in the top half of the ninth to cruise to the win.

UP NEXT
Tulane will take on Memphis in Game Two. The second game is set to begin at 5:15 p.m.

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