Tulane Downs Redhawks In Twin Bill, 6-3, 9-3

NEW ORLEANS, La.–The Green Wave offense hammered four home runs and the bullpen held Southeast Missouri State scoreless in a combined five innings of relief as the Tulane University baseball team swept a doubleheader over the Redhawks, 6-3 and 9-3, Saturday afternoon at Turchin Stadium.

Projected inclement weather forced the Tulane administration to move Sunday’s game up to a twin bill on Saturday, but it was the Green Wave who would rain homers as sophomore Mark Hamilton and senior Scott Madden hit long balls in games one and two, respectively, and Micah Owings hammered a home run in each contest as Tulane improved to 3-0 on the young season.

Southeast Missouri hung tough with the Green Wave in both halves of the doubleheader as the score was knotted at 3-all after seven in game one and Tulane clung to a 5-3 advantage going into the eighth in game two. But on each occasion, Tulane’s bats came up big late off Redhawk All-American closer Brad Smith.

In the first contest, Smith came in with bases loaded and only one away in the eighth. Smith struck out the first batter he faced, but pinch hitter Brian Bogusevic ripped an 0-1 pitch to center that skipped off the outstretched glove of SEMO centerfielder Frank Montiel for a three-run double to give Tulane the lead for good

Then, in game two, Smith came out of the bullpen after fellow reliever Brent Lawson plunked Madden to open the eighth. It was Owings’ turn to play hero this time as the transfer from Georgia Tech crushed the first pitch he saw over the wall just left of straight-away center to spark a four-run frame and put the game out of reach.

SEMO outhit the Green Wave 16-15 for the day, but the Tulane pitching staff kept the damage to a minimum. Owings, who started game one on the hill, gave up three runs (two earned) on five hits while striking out three and walking none in a seven-inning start, and junior J.R. Crowel, the starter in game two, limited the Redhawks to three runs on seven hits in a six-inning performance.

The bullpen, meanwhile, was even better as sophomore Daniel Latham tossed a perfect eighth in game one before giving way to rookie Sean Morgan, who earned the first save of his collegiate career with a scoreless ninth. In game two, junior Billy Mohl scattered three hits in 2.1 scoreless frames, and junior Ricky Fairchild retired the last two men of the contest to put the finishing touches on the weekend sweep.

Senior right fielder Matt Barket posted four hits on Saturday, including a 3-for-4 showing in game two, and Hamilton tied Bogusevic for day-high RBI honors with three apiece.

The Green Wave return to action on Tuesday, Feb. 15, when they take on McNeese State at 6:30 p.m. For ticket information, contact the Tulane Athletics Ticket Office at 504-861-WAVE or log on to the internet at www.tulanegreenwave.com.