Tulane secures third series sweep to open conference play in program history

Big ole sweep energy!!!#RollWave🌊⚾️ pic.twitter.com/fVxiBv0rBi

— Tulane Baseball (@GreenWaveBSB) April 3, 2022

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A three-run eighth inning helped the Tulane University (19-9-1, 3-0 AAC) earn the series-sweeping win over Memphis (12-12, 0-23 AAC) 5-3 on Sunday inside FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field. With today’s win the Green Wave earned a sweep in the opening series of conference play for only the third time in program history.

Two consecutive walks accompanied by a homerun from Chase Engelhard opened the door for the Green Wave to plate three runs in the top of the eighth and take a come from behind 4-3 lead it would not relinquish.

Redshirt sophomore Ethan Groff and redshirt senior Luis Aviles led the way offensively for the Wave with two hits a piece.

All five runs driven in for Tulane came from the bat of Groff, Bennett Lee and Engelhard. Lee’s RBI came in the top of the sixth, all three from Engelhard in the eighth and a solo shot in the ninth accounted for the RBI by Groff.

It was a lonesome day on the bump for Tulane as freshman right-hander Michael Massey got the start pitching staying 7.2 innings while allowing three earned runs on six hits and striking out four hitters.

Brian Valigosky retired the only hitter he faced to finish a scoreless frame in the bottom of the eighth for the Wave. Closer Zach DeVito finished it out for the Green Wave sitting down the side in the ninth on only 10 pitches to record his seventh save of the year.

Memphis would strike first putting a crooked number on the board with two runs in the second and a single run in the third.

Tulane got into the scoring column with one run in the sixth as Lee singled through the left side to drive in Groff.

The Green Wave offense went cold over the next inning until Engelhard launched a three-run bomb over the left center fence to give Tulane the lead 4-3.

Tulane would get an insurance runner in the ninth with a solo homerun from Groff to bring up the final score 5-3.

DeVito closed the door on the Tigers in the final frame with a strikeout, a line out and a fly ball which Groff would glove for the final out of the series.

UP NEXT: The Green Wave will go head to the Baton Rouge for a midweek matchup with Southern on Wednesday April 6. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.