The Green Wave scored six runs in the ninth inning, but it wasn't enough to overcome a massive deficit on a day that was filled with frustrations.
As the saying goes, "Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades."
The Tulane Green Wave came close to overcoming a big deficit with a ninth-inning rally on Saturday, but the program would ultimately fall to the Florida Atlantic Owls by a score of 10-9. This is the first American Conference series loss for the program since facing the UAB Blazers on the final weekend of March.
Starting pitcher Jake Toporek was tabbed with the loss on the mound for the Sluggerbirds, giving up four runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and two walks across 4.2 innings of action. However, to put it frankly, he was far from the only problem for the visiting squad.
Florida Atlantic put some traffic on the base paths early, taking a 1-0 lead by the end of the first inning thanks to an RBI single. The Owls plated another pair of runs in the second frame on a two-run home run by Brando Leroux. A double in the fourth inning pushed the home team's lead to 4-0. Meanwhile, Tulane's offense looked nearly lifeless at the dish.
The Green Wave would finally strike in the top of the sixth inning. Trent Liolios reached base with a two-out single, and Nolan Nawrocki entered the game as a pinch hitter and homered to left field to cut the deficit in half.
Just as Tulane had started to find a bit of momentum, it was quickly stripped away. Pitcher Jack Brafa gave up a double and a single -- which resulted in a run thanks to a throwing error -- being pulled in favor of Jude Abbadessa. One more run would score for FAU, pushing the lead to 6-2.
The Owls tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning on an infield RBI single, a two-run home run and an RBI single up the middle -- all with two outs.
Despite trailing 10-2, Tulane wasn't ready to give up. Jason Wachs blasted a solo shot over the right-field wall in the eighth inning, and then, the big inning that everyone had been waiting nearly resulted in a total comeback.
A pair of walks and a hit batter loaded the bases with one out for the Green Wave in the top of the ninth. All runners advanced on a wild pitch, with Nate Johnson scoring. Tanner Chun plated two runs on an RBI double in the next at-bat, cutting the deficit to 10-6. Tye Wood walked to keep the momentum rolling before Wachs struck out on a full-count in a massive at-bat. Matthias Haas would single up the middle to bring in a run, and Liolios added a double. Suddenly, the Sluggerbirds trailed just 10-9, but it wouldn't last: a high fly ball was grabbed out in right field, ending the game.
Liolios went 3-for-5 at the plate with two RBI and one run scored, while Chun had a 2-for-3 night with two RBI and a run scored of his own.
It's difficult to win a road series in college baseball, but the loss is certainly deflating. Tulane desperately needs to avoid being swept and digging themselves into a hole that is too deep to climb out of with roughly a month remaining in the regular season. The Green Wave will look to salvage a win on Sunday afternoon as it faces the Owls one last time beginning at 11 a.m. CT.