Tulane rebounds to payback Houston, advance to AAC title game

AAC RELEASE:

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Tulane defeated Houston, 11-8, at the 2023 American Baseball Championship presented by Visit St. Pete Clearwater Saturday, May 27 at BayCare Ballpark.

With the bounceback win after falling earlier Saturday to Houston, Tulane (18-40) advances to the Championship final to take on top-seed East Carolina on Sunday at 11 a.m. on ESPNEWS and ESPN+.

It will be Tulane’s first appearance in the Championship final. As the No. 7 seed, the Green Wave will look to become the lowest seed to win the American Baseball Championship (South Florida was a No. 6 seed in 2021).

Teo Banks hit a pair of home runs for Tulane and finished 3-for-5 with six RBI. The Green Wave scored five in the third to break open the game. The Cougars (36-23) pulled within two at 6-4, but Tulane scored three in the top of the seventh and added two insurance runs in the eighth.

Four Green Wave players scored multiple runs, including Banks and Gavin Schulz, who scored three times each.

Justin Murray hit two home runs for Houston, going 4-for-5, while also pitching three scoreless innings from the mound.

Michael Fowler (1-3) earned the win for the Green Wave, allowing one run with six strikeouts in 2.2 innings of work. Dan Wright (2-3) took the loss for the Cougars.

2023 American Athletic Conference Baseball Championship presented by Visit St. Pete Clearwater
BayCare Ballpark | Clearwater, Fla.

Tuesday, May 23
Game 1: No. 4 UCF 4, No. 5 Cincinnati 3
Game 2: No. 8 South Florida 12, No. 1 East Carolina 11 (11 innings)
Game 3: No. 7 Tulane 10, No. 2 Houston 8
Game 4: No. 6 Memphis 10, No. 3 Wichita State 6

Wednesday, May 24
Game 5: No. 1 East Carolina 9, No. 5 Cincinnati 6

Thursday, May 25
Game 6: No. 2 Houston 4, No. 3 Wichita State 3
Game 7: No. 8 South Florida 15, No. 4 UCF 4 (8 innings)
Game 8: No. 7 Tulane 12, No. 6 Memphis 2 (8 innings)

Friday, May 26
Game 9: No. 1 East Carolina 7, No. 4 UCF (13 innings)
Game 10: No. 2 Houston 6, No. 6 Memphis 5

Saturday, May 27
Game 11: No. 1 East Carolina 3, No. 8 South Florida 1
Game 12: No. 2 Houston 11, No. 7 Tulane 8
Game 13: No. 1 East Carolina 14, No. 8 South Florida 7
Game 14: No. 7 Tulane 11, No. 2 Houston 8

Sunday, May 28
Game 15: No. 7 Tulane vs. No. 1 East Carolina | 11 a.m. CT | ESPNEWS and ESPN+