The Green Wave saw a stellar performance on the mound as it started its weekend trip to Kansas off with a big victory.
At times this season, it seems like the Tulane Green Wave has lacked consistency on the diamond.
Some nights, the offense has come to life, but the pitching staff hasn't been able keep things in check. Other times, the pitching staff has put together a strong outing, but the bats haven't been able to make anything of it.
It certainly appears that things must've clicked for the Green Wave on Thursday night, as the program opened up a road series against the Wichita State Shockers with a 4-2 victory. It marks the first time that the program has picked up a win in the first game of an American Conference series, and it's the first weekend-opening win since the team faced the Eastern Kentucky Colonels on February 27th.
All eyes were on starting pitcher Jake Toporek, who put together one of the team's strongest outings of the year and earned the victory on the mound. The graduate student pitched 5.1 shutout innings with four strikeouts and just three hits.
Toporek's success on the mound would ultimately be contagious, as the pitching staff didn't give up a single free base on the night: no walks, no hit batters, no wild pitches.
Offensively, the Sluggerbirds wasted no time in putting bat to ball and throwing some crooked numbers on the scoreboard. After Nate Johnson drew a walk in the top of the first inning, Trent Liolios brought him home with a single down the right-field line to give the visiting squad the 1-0 advantage.
Tulane plated another pair of runs in the third inning to build its lead. A pair of walks and a hit would load the bases with just one out, and Tye Wood would bring two of those runners home with a double.
The Green Wave managed to keep the Shockers off the board up until the seventh inning. Jude Abbadessa gave up the home team's first run of the game on an RBI single, but he fought around some traffic on the bases to keep the score at 3-1. His offense would find a way to grab that run back, as Wood hit a deep home run down the left field line on the first pitch of the eighth inning.
Things got a bit interesting in the bottom of the ninth inning. Pitcher Beau Sampson found himself in a bit of a bind early after giving up a pair of hits with just one out in the frame to cut the deficit to 4-2. After forcing a the second out of the inning, the Sluggerbirds brought in Sam Larson, who needed just two pitches to force the record the final out and secure the win for Tulane.
Wood led the team offensively, going a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with one run scored and three RBI. Liolios went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
The Green Wave will look to clinch the road series on Friday night as it takes the field in Wichita. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. CT.