Tulane drops finale at No. 9 Ole Miss, 6-3

Box Score (PDF)

OXFORD, Miss. – Tulane baseball scored a run in the top of the first inning and led 2-1 after five, but No. 9 Ole Miss scored five runs in the sixth inning to win 6-3 in the series finale Sunday afternoon at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field.

The Green Wave (3-3) scored single runs in the first, fifth and eighth innings, but it was the five-run sixth inning that made the difference in the game for the Rebels (7-0).

Sophomore Jonathon Artigues went 2-for-5 with a pair of singles and scored two runs and junior center fielder Grant Witherspoon was 3-for-5 with an RBI to lead the Wave.

“First off, I’ll say that I’m proud of our guys – they came out with their backs against the wall, and Keagan (Gillies) gave us just what we needed, which was a quality start,” Tulane head coach Travis Jewett said. “We came out and struck early, and if we didn’t have to play the sixth inning the last two days, we’d probably be in pretty good shape. It was certainly not the result we were looking for or expecting. But hopefully the tough challenge, the good environment and the quality opponent will lead to us moving forward as a team.

“I told the team after the game, even after three losses, that we’re going to be good. We’re going to be really good. The Ole Miss coaches were really complimentary of these guys, and I think they knew that they had a fight on their hands.”

Artigues led off the game with a single to right field, was balked to second base and scored on a groundout by junior right fielder Ty Johnson. After Ole Miss tied the game in the fourth on a solo home run by left fielder Thomas Dillard, Artigues got it started for Tulane again in the fifth.

The Tulane second baseman hit a two-out single up the middle, went to second on a passed ball and scored when Witherspoon drove a base hit into right center field, giving the Wave the lead again, 2-1.

For the second straight game, however, Ole Miss scored five runs in the sixth inning to take a big lead into the late innings. A single, fielder’s choice and a walk loaded the bases with one out. Center fielder Will Golsan hit a two-run single, and catcher Cooper Johnson followed with a two-out three-run home run to make the score 6-2.

The Green Wave got a run back in the top of the eighth on a sacrifice fly by catcher Acy Owen. Sophomore third baseman Kody Hoese led off with a single through the left side and sophomore first baseman Grant Mathews doubled down the left field line. It was the first collegiate hit for the New Orleans native Mathews. Tulane left one runner on in the eighth, and 10 for the ballgame, including five in scoring position.

Tulane sophomore Keagan Gillies (0-1) was solid in his start on the mound. He held the Rebels to just one run through five innings. He recorded an out in the sixth, but left the game with runners at the corners, and finished with five strikeouts and two earned runs allowed. Junior Will McAffer, senior Sam Bjorngjeld and sophomore Trent Johnson followed in relief. Bjorngjeld allowed one hit in 1.2 scoreless frames, and Johnson recorded the final out of the eighth inning.

“Two innings, both crooked numbers (this weekend), and they were things that are controllable,” Jewett said. “I like that part of it. It’s not like we’re not good enough or we don’t know what we’re doing. We’re plenty good enough. I thought we played toe-to-toe with them for the most part. A couple of big innings separate the good from the bad.”

Ole Miss reliever Jacob Fowler (2-0) earned the win in relief. He allowed a hit in a scoreless inning of work. Starter James McArthur went 5.1 innings and allowed two runs on six hits with a walk and three strikeouts.

The Green Wave return home to face Lamar in a two-game midweek set at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium Tuesday and Wednesday. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and 4 p.m. Wednesday.

“We just have to move forward. It’s going to be a quick turnaround,” Jewett said. “Lamar is right there on Tuesday. The thing I love about baseball that’s different from, say football, is we don’t have to wait a week to do it. We can get on the bus evaluate it a little bit, certainly be disappointed in the results, but also see maybe what’s at the end of the tunnel, which I think is a lot of good baseball. I like this team, and I think we’re going to be good when it’s all said and done.”

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Ole Miss 6, Tulane 3 (Feb 25, 2018 at Oxford, Miss.)

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Tulane………….. 100 010 010  –  3  9  1      (3-3)

Ole Miss………… 000 105 00X  –  6  8  1      (7-0)

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Pitchers: Tulane – GILLIES, Keagan; McAFFER, Will(6); BJORNGJELD, Sam(8); JOHNSON, Trent(8) and

OWEN, Acy. Ole Miss – J. McArthur; J. Fowler(6); G. Holston(7); W. Stokes(8); D. Woolfolk(9)

and C. Johnson.

Win-J. Fowler(2-0)  Save-D. Woolfolk(4)  Loss-GILLIES, Keagan(0-1)  T-3:03  A-7708

HR OM – T. Dillard (1); C. Johnson (2).

Weather: 53 degrees, overcast