The Green Wave tied the game at four runs apiece on a solo home run in the ninth inning before ultimately giving up a bases-loaded walk-off single to the Golden Eagles.
The Tulane Green Wave fought hard against the 18th-ranked Southern Miss Golden Eagles, but a few lucky breaks throughout the night couldn't swing the team's way in the end, as it fell 5-4 on a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning.
With the loss, the Green Wave has now lost three of its last four matchups.
Tom Vincent was tabbed with the loss on the mound for the visiting squad after giving up the winning run. The left-handed pitcher allowed two hits and one run while walking two batters across 1.1 innings. As a whole, the Sluggerbirds pitching staff struck out just two batters on the evening while walking six.
Southern Miss struck first off of starting pitcher Jack Brafa with a two-run home run by Joey Urban in the bottom of the first inning, but the Green Wave would respond in a big way in the following frame. A pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases with just one out, and James Agabedis singled through the right side to tie the game at two runs apiece. Tye Wood followed that up with a double to push his team to a 3-2 lead.
That lead would ultimately be short-lived. USM added a solo home run in the bottom of the second to tie the game right back up at three. LuisPablo Navarro entered the game on the mound in place of Brafa and managed to get three quick outs.
The third home run of the night for the home team would come in the fourth inning, putting Southern Miss up 4-3. Meanwhile, Tulane's offense went cold.
The defense would get a few lucky breaks as the Golden Eagles continued to threaten at the plate. A trio of double plays ended the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to keep USM from gaining too much momentum or adding to its lead.
Agabedis tied the game at four runs apiece with a massive solo shot in the top of the ninth inning, and for a moment, the team was back in business. The Green Wave would manage to get the go-ahead run on base with a walk by Evan Burg, but he'd be thrown out stealing to end the frame.
Vincent got a quick out to start the bottom of the ninth, but a walk and a double would put a pair of runners in scoring position for the Golden Eagles. The Sluggerbirds elected to intentionally walk Urban to load the bases in hopes of forcing a double play for the fourth-straight inning, but Kyle Morrison dropped a single into right field to slam the door for his team.
Agabedis was responsible for driving in three of the team's four runs, going 2-for-4 at the plate with one run scored of his own. Wood went 3-for-4 with one RBI and two doubles. Jason Wachs, Trent Liolios and Nate Johnson each recorded a hit for Tulane.
Up next, the Uptown boys will face a tough task as they welcome the UTSA Roadrunners to Greer Field at Turchin Stadium for an American Conference weekend series. Friday's series-opening game will begin at 7 p.m. CT.