Tulane falls in see-saw battle to UCSB, 8-7

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Down by a run the Tulane Green Wave baseball team had a bases-loaded opportunity to tie or take the lead in the bottom of the ninth, but the UCSB Gauchos were able to hold on to claim the series with an 8-7 win Saturday in New Orleans.

With Tulane (10-5) down by a pair of runs after five innings, the Green Wave not only tied the game but took the lead and went up by two with a four-run sixth inning. Unfortunately, the lead would be short-lived as UCSB (10-2) scored three of their own in the seventh and would hold on from there to claim their second win of the weekend.

“It’s a game of tug-of-war and we’ve struggled here early in being able to put zero’s up after we score,” head coach Travis Jewett said. “Obviously disappointing, but we’ll just have to get back on the saddle tomorrow.”

Tulane finished with 13 hits in the game, as Hudson Haskin went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Trevor Jensen and Sal Gozzo were two of five Green Wave players to finish the game with multiple hits, with both driving in two on the afternoon.

Starter Keagan Gillies worked out of some early trouble but found it in the fourth as he would finish the day allowing four runs on eight hits with five strikeouts in 3.1 innings pitched. Brendan Cellucci (1-1) wound up with the loss after being on the hook for the final three Gaucho runs of the game in the seventh.

UCSB tagged Tulane pitching with 15 hits, with Tommy Jew and Christian Kirtley each having three base knocks to lead the visitors. Pitcher Chris Lincoln (2-0) was the beneficiary of the late-inning runs by the Gauchos as he allowed three runs for Tulane to re-take the lead, but earned the win as Michael McGreevy (2) pitched the final three innings to capture the save and the win for UCSB.

After going down in order in the second inning, Tulane took to the second and with an out on the board Jonathon Artigues reached on an error at first and was able to move to second on the play. Haskin took the first pitch he saw and drove it through the left side as Artigues motored around third and slid in before the tag to make it 1-0 Green Wave.

Gillies finally ran into trouble he would be unable to get out of in the fourth, as the junior was tagged for four runs on four hits as Trent Johnson came on in relief after that with UCSB ending the frame going up 4-1.

Now down by three, in the bottom of the fourth Kobi Owen drew a walk to open the Tulane half as after a strikeout Haskin doubled to left to put another Green Wave run on the board at 4-2. With a strike left Frankie Niemann drove a double to left to score Haskin and pulled Tulane to within on at 4-3.

UCSB would plate another run in the top of the fifth to extend the lead back to two runs, as after a pair of scoreless at-bat for both sides Tulane got a walk to Artigues to open the bottom of the sixth, prompting the change for the Gauchos from starter Jack Dashwood to Lincoln.

Haskin’s bat stayed red hot as he singled to center to put runners at second and third for the Green Wave. Niemann used a sac bunt to push both runners into scoring position, as Owen came into hit and singled through the right side to drive both in and tie the game at 5-5. Jensen did the rest with a moon shot off the scoreboard in left to give Tulane the lead back at 7-5.

However, the Gauchos got those runs back and more plating three on two hits, eventually chasing Brendan Cellucci from the game with C.J. Whelan coming on as UCSB re-took the lead to go up by one at 8-7. Whelan would pitch the next three innings and allow just two hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

Down to their final two outs, Grant Mathews singled through the left side to reach first. Tyler Heinrichs came on to pinch run at first and after a strikeout Artigues doubled to right to put two on with two outs. The Gauchos intentionally walked Haskin to load the bases, but a fly out to center ended the threat and the game.

First pitch for the finale against UCSB is set for 1 p.m. Sunday at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium.

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