The Tulane baseball team (21-21, 7-8 American) tied the game in the top of the ninth but then saw No. 16 Southern Miss (29-12) score the go-ahead run in the bottom of the frame to earn a 5-4 walk-off victory on Tuesday night, April 21, at Pete Taylor Park.
The ninth inning proved to be eventful for both sides. After Tulane tied the game with two outs in the top of the inning on the solo home run from James Agabedis, Southern Miss answered in the bottom of the frame with the game-winning hit from Kyle Morrison to right field that beat Tulane’s six infield alignment. The first two batters reached for the Golden Eagles on a walk and bounding double to start the trouble in the frame.
Tom Vincent (1-2) was tagged with the loss after surrendering a run in his 1.1 innings of work on two hits and two walks. Jack Brafa started for Tulane and allowed three runs in his inning. LuisPablo Navarro surrendered a run in three innings on two hits as the first man out of the bullpen. Jude Abbadessa twirled 1.1 scoreless frames. Julius Ejike Charles recorded a pair of outs in his outing. Sam Larson threw 0.2 scoreless with a hit and a walk allowed.
Colby Allen (4-1) earned the win for the Golden Eagles despite allowing the tying run in the ninth inning.
James Agabedis helped lead the offense as he picked up two hits and three RBIs. Tye Wood recorded three hits including two doubles and drove in a run. Jason Wachs had a hit and a walk. Trent Liolios totaled a hit and a run scored. Nate Johnson had a hit and a run scored. Kaikea Harrison walked and scored a run.
Southern Miss started the scoring, 2-0, in the opening inning on a two-run home run from Joey Urban.
Tulane took the lead back with three runs in the second inning on a two-run single from Agabedis and an RBI double from Wood.
USM tied the score in the bottom of the frame on Drey Barrett’s home run to start the inning.
Barrett struck again with his second home run of the game to give Southern Miss the lead, 4-3, in the fourth. That same score would hold all the way until two outs in the ninth inning.
Tulane had a golden opportunity to tie the game or take the lead in the eighth as Wood doubled and was followed by a walk to Wachs. After a sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position, the next two Tulane batters struck out to end the threat.
Next, Tulane heads back home to host UTSA (27-13, 10-5 American) for a three-game set from April 24-26. Game times are 7 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 12 p.m.
Notables
The loss was the program’s fifth to a ranked opponent this season…The program is now 7-15 in road and neutral site contests on the year…The Green Wave are 3-10 this year when the opposition hits two or more home runs…The run allowed in the first inning dropped Tulane to 3-15 when the opposition scores in the opening frame and 6-15 when the opponent scores first…Jason Wachs has now reached base safely in seven straight games and in 41 of the team’s 42 games this season…James Agabedis is now tied for the team lead with five home runs…The multi-hit game was the eighth of the season for Tye Wood…Evan Burg’s start in center field was the first start of his career and the first time in 42 games that the team did not start Tanner Chun in center.
READ MORE:Tulane suffers 5-4 late road loss to No. 16 Southern Miss
