The Green Wave made the most of East Carolina's mistakes, picking up a 4-1 win to get the weekend started on the right foot.
The odds were certainly stacked against the Tulane Green Wave heading into its weekend series against the East Carolina Pirates, but the Sluggerbirds rose to the occasion and delivered an impressive 4-1 win in Friday's opening game.
Trey Cehajic earned the win on the mound, going 5.1 innings and allowing just four hits and one run with two walks and two strikeouts. The Friday-night starter has had a tough few weeks on the mound, but this could be the win that gives him a major boost.
Tulane's offense found a way to jump in front in the bottom of the first inning, though it was a bit unconventional. Tye Wood managed to reach base on a throwing error, and he quickly stole second to put himself in scoring position with no outs. A deep fly ball by Nate Johnson helped Wood reach third, and he made it home on a groundout to give his team the 1-0 lead.
East Carolina fought back in the very next frame with a run scored on an RBI single to tie the game up at one run apiece.
Both offenses would go quiet again until the bottom of the fourth inning, as the Green Wave continued to turn mistakes by its opponent into runs scored. Jason Wachs was awarded first base after catcher's interference was called during his at-bat, and he later advanced to second on a wild pitch. Trent Liolios delivered a big two-run home run -- his first of the season -- to put the home team up 3-1.
Though the Pirates were able to put some traffic on the base paths, they came away with nothing to show for it. Meanwhile, Tulane continued to add to its lead in the sixth inning: Wood singled and stole second to open up the frame, and he later came home on a sacrifice fly by Jason Wachs.
With a 4-1 lead and only three innings left to play, the Sluggerbirds had to dig deep to keep a talented East Carolina squad off the board. After Jack Brafa gave up a single and a walk to bring the Pirates' tying run to the plate in the seventh inning, Jude Abbadessa entered the game and grabbed the final out of the frame.
Beau Sampson would take over on the mound for the Green Wave in the eighth, and despite giving up a single, he later forced a double play to escape the inning quickly. Tulane would make one more pitching change heading into the ninth, and it was certainly the right call: Sam Larson struck out the side to secure the win for his team.
Offensively, Liolios was the player of the night for the home team, going 1-for-3 at the plate with two RBI and one run scored. Wood went 1-for-4 with two runs scored, while Wachs scored one run and had two RBI. Though the team as a whole had just five hits and only drew one walk, it made the most of its opportunities to reach home plate.
The Green Wave will look to clinch the series in Saturday's second game. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. CT from Greer Field at Turchin Stadium.