The Green Wave scored six unanswered runs in the final frame, but it wasn't enough to overcome a big deficit at the hands of the Blazers.
If there was ever a time for the Tulane Green Wave to make things interesting in Friday night's series-opening matchup with the UAB Blazers, it was the ninth inning.
The Sluggerbirds scored six straight runs in the frame after being held scoreless through the first eight innings, but it wasn't enough to overcome a large deficit, and the team ultimately dropped the contest by a score of 9-6.
Starting pitcher Trey Cehajic's recent struggles on the mound continued in the matchup. The graduate student made it through 4.2 innings of action, giving up eight runs on 10 hits with two strikeouts, two walks and one hit batter. He is now 1-3 on the year. As a whole, Tulane's four pitchers who toed the rubber totaled six walks and six strikeouts.
After the Blazers managed to put up four runs in the bottom of the second inning to get an early head start, the home team plated one more run in the fourth inning and three in the fifth to take a commanding 8-0 lead. UAB earned its final run of the night in the sixth inning to put the game away... almost.
In the opposite dugout, the Green Wave simply couldn't find a way to get the bats going. Blazers standout Mason Steele put together a monster outing with 103 total pitches through 7.0 innings, giving up no runs on the night with four walks and five strikeouts. A single by Hugh Pinkney in the third inning and a double by Tanner Chun to open up the fourth inning were the only two hits against the standout starter.
However, Tulane did find some big momentum in a massive ninth inning that nearly fueled a complete comeback.
Nate Johnson got the inning started with an infield single, and Evan Burg was hit by a pitch to put a pair of runners on with no outs. The Sluggerbirds got their first run of the game on a single by Trent Liolios, and from there, the runs just kept coming.
James Agabedis earned the opportunity to pinch-hit, and he made the most of it, singling up the middle to drive Burg home. Pinkney singled to reload the bases, still with no outs, and force UAB to make a pitching change.
Kaikea Harrison reached on a fielder's choice in the following at-bat, and though a run came home to cut the deficit to 9-3, Pinkney was tossed out at second base. Chun loaded the bases once again by drawing a walk, though that was followed up by an uncharacteristic strikeout by Jason Wachs.
The team still found a way to string together some clutch two-out hitting. Tye Wood singled to drive in the fourth run of the frame, and Johnson continued his hot streak with a double to drive in two baserunners and cut the deficit to 9-6. Burg was next up to bat and represented the tying run, but he struck out looking to end the game.
In last weekend's American Conference-opening series against the Memphis Tigers, the Green Wave bounced back from a loss in the first game of the weekend to ultimately claim the series. Tulane will look to repeat that feat on Saturday, as it faces the Blazers in game two of the weekend matchup in hopes of evening up the series. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.