Dairy Queen Not Kind to Green Wave

Tulane baseball took an undefeated record to the 2008 Dairy Queen Invitational at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota this weekend. However, Coach Rick Jones' troops were rudely greeted suffering the Green Wave's first two losses of the season on consecutive days.

Friday, Tulane opened the tournament against 3-1 Pepperdine with ace Shooter Hunt taking the mound. Hunt pitched 6 strong innings, giving up 2 runs and striking out eight. Tulane entered the eighth inning tied 2-2 with the Wave. The bullpen was unable to shut down the Wave as Pepperdine rallied for 2 runs on 3 hits to take a 4-2 victory.

Saturday proved to be more of the same as the bullpen blew a 5-3 lead in the eighth inning as the Minnesota Golden Gophers took the win 7-5. Sophomore lefty Aaron Loup pitched 6 strong innings giving the Green Wave a 5-2 lead. Loup surrendered only 4 hits and one walk while striking out six.

Tulane got back on track Sunday against TCU as Aja Barto hit a solo home run in the eighth to break a 3-3 tie. Tulane would add another run to seal the 5-3 victory over the Horned Frogs. Freshman starter Robby Broach had is second consecutive solid outing, spreading out 9 hits over six innings. Broach gave up all 3 runs while striking out six. Freshman releiver pitched 1 1/3 innings giving up only one hit while recording a pair of strikeouts. Junior releiver Mason Griffith got the win, pitching the final 1 2/3 innings. Mason was nearly perfect giving up no hits or walks, striking out 2 TCU batters.

Tulane (6-2) returns to action Tuesday at 6 P.M. against cross-town rival UNO.