Feb. 10, 2007

Final Stats

Box Score in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

HAMMOND, La. - Southeastern Louisiana first baseman Dillon Sudduth went 3-for-3 with a double, a home run and three RBI, and southpaw Brent Varnado pitched 4.2 innings of solid relief as the Tulane University baseball team dropped game two of the Senator's Cup Series to the Lions, 5-3, Saturday afternoon at Alumni Field.

The Green Wave got off to a good start as sophomore right fielder Warren McFadden smashed a two-run homer into the teeth of the wind in the first inning, but the Lions answered with single runs in the second and third innings before hanging a three-spot on the board in the fifth. Southeastern out-hit the Green Wave, 10-6, and Varnado (1-0) played a large role in that as he allowed just one run on three hits during his time on the hill.

"Southeastern out-played us in every phase today, and they deserve all the credit," Tulane head coach Rick Jones said. "You have to play well every day in this game, and today, we did not. I didn't think we were mature enough offensively as I hoped we'd be and didn't have good at-bats in hitters' counts. But the bottom line is we didn't play well enough to beat a team that played as well as Southeastern did today."

The loss snapped the Green Wave's seven-game winning streak against teams from the state of Louisiana. It also ended a seven-game winning streak against SLU as Tulane's last loss to the Lions on April 12, 2000, when the Green Wave dropped a 5-1 decision at Turchin Stadium.

Things went well for Tulane early on as junior shortstop Cat Everett opened the game with a double and McFadden staked the Green Wave to a 2-0 advantage with his first homer of the year three at-bats later.

Southeastern Louisiana, however, came right back with an RBI-single by catcher Matthew Shexnayder in the second and a solo homer by Sudduth in the third. Following a scoreless fourth, the Lions plated three runs in the fifth as Sudduth ripped a two-RBI double to right center and designated hitter Chase Burch looped an RBI-single to center two hitters later.

Lions' starter Josh Black was able to keep the Green Wave off the board from the second through fourth innings before handing the ball to Varnado, who went the rest of the way.

Tulane scratched across a run in the seventh when sophomore first baseman Seth Henry drew a one-out walk, advanced to third on a hit by Everett and scored on an RBI-single by senior first baseman Tim Guidry. Varnado responded by getting a fielder's choice and a fly ball to center to get out of the inning without any more harm done, pitched his way around a single and a walk in the eighth, and retired the side in the ninth.

The Green Wave had their chances throughout the ballgame but left eight runners on base, including four in scoring position. Varnado helped his own cause by fielding 1-6-3 double plays in the sixth and seventh innings, and got Tulane to hit into another twin-killing in the eighth.

Overshadowed in the loss was a solid relief performance by Green Wave freshman Drew Zizinia, who allowed just two hits and a walk while striking out a pair over the final 3.1 scoreless frames. Tulane starter Brandon Gomes (0-1) was tagged with the loss after allowing five runs on seven hits and a walk while fanning four in 4.1 innings.

Tulane and Southeastern Louisiana will play the rubber match of the Senator's Cup Series on Sunday at Zephyr Field with first pitch slated for 1 p.m. After the weekend finale, the Green Wave return to action on Friday, Feb. 16, when they open a three-game series against North Florida at 6:30 p.m. at "The Shrine on Airline."

Season tickets for Tulane baseball are now for sale through the Tulane Athletics Ticket Office and can be picked up in person on the first floor of the James W. Wilson, Jr. Center, via the internet at www.TulaneGreenWave.com or over the phone at 504-861-WAVE. The Zephyr Field Ticket Office is located on the third-base side of stadium and will open approximately two hours before first pitch for each Tulane home game.