The Green Wave dropped the first game of the Pelican Cup to crosstown-competition UNO by a score of 11-3.
After a sweep of the Harvard Crimson over the weekend, the Tulane Green Wave's momentum on the diamond took a major hit in an 11-3 loss to the University of New Orleans Privateers on Tuesday.
While Tulane struck first with a first-inning with a double by Jason Wachs to drive in Tye Woods, things got out of hand far too quickly for the program. Starting pitcher Jude Abbadessa lasted just two-thirds of the first inning, as he gave up six runs thanks to a two-run home run and a grand slam in the frame. Additionally, he allowed five hits and three walks. Aside from a single strikeout, the redshirt junior left the mound with a performance that he'd undoubtedly like to erase from his memory completely.
The early 6-1 deficit only made things much more difficult for the Green Wave. The program did try to battle back with a pair of runs in the second inning: Johnny Elliott doubled to bring in a run, and Kaikea Harrison allowed a baserunner to come home on a sacrifice fly. Ultimately, those would be the only runs scored for the team all night.
UNO got both runs back in the bottom of the third inning as it plated a pair, and the program added insult to injury with a three-run frame in the eighth inning to put the game all-but impossibly out of reach.
Wachs was the biggest bright spot for Tulane offensively, with a team-high three hits and one RBI on the night. Elliott and Matthias Haas were the only two players to record a hit in the matchup, with one each.
Meanwhile, the Privateers had no problem attacking offensively against a defeated Green Wave pitching staff. The home team's 11 runs came on 12 hits, and four separate players drew a walk each.
Believe it or not, the Green Wave pitchers still managed to pick up 11 strikeouts on the night. Jake Toporek had the best outing of any reliever with no runs given up, three hits and five strikeouts in 3.1 innings of action. Caden Tarango allowed two runs and one hit with two strikeouts and two wild pitches in two innings of work, and Luispablo Navarro posted eerily similar stats with two runs on one hit with two strikeouts and one walk. Will Clements wrapped up the game with one run and two hits given up in two-thirds of an inning of action.
Tulane desperately needs to find the spark that it's had for much of the early part of the season as it prepares for another midweek showdown on Wednesday -- this one coming against the South Alabama Jaguars. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. CT from Mobile. Following that short road trip, the Green Wave will return home for a weekend series against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels.