Feb. 15, 2005

Final Stats

NEW ORLEANS, La. - Junior outfielder Nathan Southard came off the bench to spark a three-run eighth and sophomore right-hander Brandon Gomes posted a career-high 11 strikeouts as the No. 1 ranked Tulane University baseball team defeated in-state foe McNeese State, 3-0, Tuesday evening at Turchin Stadium.

The game was a pitchers' duel as Gomes kept the Cowboys off the board in a six-inning start and McNeese State hurler Jacob Marceaux did the same through seven. While the Green Wave did not score in the seventh frame, the star of the game made his entrance then as Southard came on to pinch-run for junior right fielder Brian Bogusevic before getting stranded at second base.

From there, Southard made a highlight-reel, fully-extended diving catch for the third out in the top of the eighth, and came through with a hustling two-run double to left that died in the wet outfielder grass to account for the final score. With the win, Tulane improves to 4-0 on the season, while McNeese drops to 2-5.

The Green Wave had stranded six runners on base through seven, including four in scoring position, but Tulane would come through in the eighth. Senior Matt Barket, who started the game in center before moving to right in the eighth, got the benefit of a collision in the outfield as his mile-high shot to left fell harmlessly to the ground when Cowboys' shortstop Bryan Cartie and left fielder Chris Fontenot collided for a one-out double off or reliever Cameron Chandler.

From there, McNeese State intentionally walk senior catcher Greg Dini to set up a double-play opportunity as well as a lefty-on-lefty matchup from the hills as Cowboys' southpaw Danny Davis was called in from the pen to face sophomore left fielder Mark Hamilton. Hamilton jumped on the first pitch he saw from Davis, sending it in to right field for an RBI double that would give the Green Wave the only run they would need.

One at-bat later, Southard fell behind 0-2 but turned on a 1-2 Davis offering for a two-run double to put the game out of reach. In the ninth, rookie closer Sean Morgan retired the side in order, including strikeouts to open and close the frame, to earn his second save of the year.

Redshirt-junior Ricky Fairchild picked up the win for the Green Wave after tossing a perfect eighth to claim his first victory since his freshman season back in 2002. Tulane also got a solid outing out of sophomore Daniel Latham, who pitched around a leadoff single in the seventh, as the Green Wave bullpen has not allowed a run in nine innings so far in 2005.

The story of the game, however, was Gomes who made his first appearance since Feb. 17 and his first start since the championship game of the 2003 Conference USA Championship Game on May 25. He retired the first seven men he faced, gave up just one walk and two singles while facing four more than the minimum in his time on the hill.

McNeese State's Marceaux was equally up to the task as the Cowboy right-hander scattered four hits and two walks while striking out six in a seven-inning start. Chandler was tagged with the loss after giving up two runs on one hit and one walk in one-third of an inning.

Tulane returns to action over the weekend when they take on Arizona State. Friday and Sunday's games are scheduled for Turchin Stadium at 6:30 and 1 p.m., respectively, while Saturday's ballgame will take place at Zephyr Field with first pitch slated for 2 p.m.

For ticket information, including the Green Wave's "Three At The `Z'" package - which includes tickets to Tulane's Zephyr Field games vs. ASU, Cal State Fullerton and LSU - contact the Tulane Athletics Ticket Office at 504-861-WAVE or log on to the internet at www.tulanegreenwave.com.

NOTE: Prior to the start of Tuesday's game vs. McNeese State, Tulane's Brian Bogusevic was named Pro-Line Cap Pitcher of the Week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. Bogusevic, who was tabbed Conference USA Pitcher of the Week by the league office and Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball on Monday, earned the distinction after struck out a career-high 13 with no walks in an 8.0-inning start against Southeast Missouri State on Friday night. In addition to limiting the Redhawks to two hits while facing just three more than the minimum during his time on the hill, Bogusevic came off the bench in game one of Saturday's doubleheader to drill a three-run double to account for the winning runs in a 6-3 victory.