The Green Wave fell apart early on the mound and couldn't recover in its 7-3 loss to the Roadrunners.
Fun fact: so far this season, the Tulane Green Wave has dropped four of its six series-opening games in American Conference play.
That trend continued on Friday night, as the Sluggerbirds dropped a tough contest on the diamond to the UTSA Roadrunners by a score of 7-3.
Trey Cehajic was tabbed with the loss on the mound for the Green Wave after giving up seven runs on eight hits with three walks and one strikeout through just 2.2 innings of action. The starting pitcher is now 2-5 on the season.
Though LuisPablo Navarro and Jacob Moore pitched a no-hitter with seven combined strikeouts in relief, Tulane was just too far behind to dig itself out of a 7-0 hole. The Green Wave had 11 hits to UTSA's eight, but the team couldn't string those big at-bats together when it mattered most.
A two-run home run in the first inning put the home team behind early. The Roadrunners tacked on five more runs in the top of the third inning: a frame in which they exploded for five hits -- three of which were doubles -- and drew a bases-loaded walk to pull ahead.
Tulane found a way to cut into the deficit in the bottom of the fourth inning. After picking up four hits through the first three frames but having nothing to show for it, the Olive Green and Sky Blue got on base quickly and was determined to make something of it. A double by James Agabedis coupled with a throwing error plated a pair of runs to make it a 7-2 ballgame, but momentum quickly fizzled out thanks to a double-play that ended the inning.
In keeping with the team's latest trends, the Green Wave found a way to make things interesting in the ninth inning. Nate Johnson tripled to open up the frame, and he was quickly brought home on an RBI single by Kaikea Harrison to cut the deficit to 7-3. Another double play would empty the bases, but a two-out double by Tye Wood gave the boys from Uptown another chance. Ultimately, Jason Wachs grounded out to end the game.
Wood, Wachs, Harrison and Matthias Haas recorded two hits apiece for Tulane, while four different players blasted extra-base hits. The offense as a whole drew four walks while striking out eight times.
The Sluggerbirds will look to even the series on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. CT at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium.