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Baseball Falls To C-USA Foe Rice In Series Finale, 7-4
May 13, 2007
Box Score in PDF Format
HOUSTON, Texas - Junior shortstop Cat Everett sophomore second baseman Seth Henry combined for six hits and two RBI, but it was not enough as the Tulane University baseball team dropped a 7-4 decision to Conference USA foe Rice Sunday afternoon at Reckling Park. Tulane trailed 4-0 after three innings, but the Green Wave responded with a pair of runs of their own in the fifth and sixth inning. The bad news, however, was that every time Tulane score, the Owls had an answer as Rice plated two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth to account for the final score. With the loss, Tulane falls to 30-23 on the year and concludes its C-USA season at 9-15. Already a lock for the 2007 C-USA Tournament from May 23-27 in Greenville, N.C., the Green Wave will close out the regular season with a three-game series against Chicago State beginning on Thursday, May 17, at Zephyr Field. Rice, meanwhile, improves to 41-11 overall and 19-2 in league play. Rice starting pitcher/designated hitter Joe Savery kept Tulane off the scoreboard over the first four innings of play - striking out four and giving up just three walks and two singles during that time. He also provided the offensive spark early on, posting two-out RBI-singles in the first and third innings. From there, however, the Green Wave offense came alive as Henry opened the fifth with a double and scored on a one-out two-bagger off the bat of sophomore left fielder Nate Simon. Everett followed with an RBI-single down the right field line and the lead was cut in half.
One inning later, sophomore designated hitter Warren McFadden got things going with a leadoff double to the gap in right central, and following a single by senior designated hitter Ty Wallace, scored on an RBI-single to center by Henry. Sophomore catcher Jared Dyer followed Henry's single with a base hit of his own, and Simon drew a walk to drive in Tulane's fourth run of the contest. The walk chased Savery from the game, as Rice head coach Wayne Graham called on Matt Langwell to pitch the Owls out of the bases-loaded, one-out jam. Langwell responded by getting an inning-ending double play and allowed just one hit the rest of the way to pick up his first save of the year. While Langwell slammed the door on the Wave, the Rice offense answered each of Tulane's rallies. After the Green Wave cut the lead to 4-2, Savery singled and left fielder Aaron Luna walked, and the pair scored on an RBI-double by first baseman Danny Lehmann and a sacrifice fly off the bat of third baseman J.P. Padron, respectively. One inning later, Brian Friday ripped a leadoff triple to center and scored on a sacrifice fly to left by right fielder Jared Gayhart to account for the final score. Savery (7-1) earned the win after allowing four runs on nine hits and four walks while fanning four in a 5.1-inning start. Langwell allowed just one baserunner - a single by Everett in the ninth - while posting one strikeout. Tulane starter Brandon Gomes (5-6) was tagged with the loss after giving up six runs (five earned) on 10 hits and two walks while striking out five in as many innings. Rookie right-hander Preston Claiborne allowed one run on three hits in an inning and two-thirds, and senior Daniel Latham pitched 1.1 scoreless frames to wrap up the day for the Green Wave. Following Thursday's series-opener against Chicago State, Tulane and Chicago State will play again on Friday and Saturday, and all three ballgames are scheduled to begin at noon. For ticket information to next weekend's ballgames, contact the Tulane Athletics ticket office at (504) 861-WAVE. Tickets can also be purchased on the day of the game at the Zephyr Field Ticket Office, which is located on the third-base side of the stadium and opens approximately two hours before first pitch. |
 
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