03/17/06– FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NO. 14 TULANE DROPS JAGUARS 6-3 IN NEW ORLEANS

CONTACT: Kevin Sytko

Box Score

MOBILE, Ala. -The University of South Alabama dropped the opening game of a three game series in New Orleans 6-3, to the Tulane Green Wave. With the loss the Jags drop to 14-7. The win improves the Green Wave record to 13-7.

Tyler Jones picked up two hits which included a triple and a home run. No other Jag was able to muster a multiple hit game. The Jags will take on Tulane in game two Saturday afternoon at Zephyr Field. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m.

USA wasted no time getting on board in the first inning. Tyler Jones pulled his sixth triple of the season down the right field line. David Freese then singled to left field plating Jones, and giving the Jags the 1-0 lead. Jeff Cunningham then executed a perfect hit and run, singling through right side. Guillermo Martinez then lifted a sacrifice fly to center field giving USA a 2-0 lead.

Tulane answered in the bottom of the second. Mark Hamilton led off the inning by ripping an 0-2 Zach Piccola curveball over the right field wall to cut the Jag lead to 2-1. Matt Riser then picked up a two-out bunt single. Riser then stole second and scored from second on a strikeout wild pitch by Piccola. Riser came all the way around to score when a Piccola breaking got bounced away from Joel Collins, tying the game at two.

Jones then got one run back with one swing of the bat, launching a prodigious blast to right field. For Jones it was the third home run of his 2006 season and gave the Jags a 3-2 lead.

Tulane took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Aja Barto picked up a two-out walk, which was followed by catcher’s interference call which extended the inning. Matt Kwan was then plunked by a Piccola offering. Seth Henry then ripped a bases clearing double making the score 5-3 Green Wave.

The Green Wave made the score 6-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning when Nathan Southard led off the inning with a single up the middle. Southard then stole second and scored when Cat Everett picked up a two out single up the middle.

Green Wave starter Sean Morgan was dominant in the win for Tulane improving to 4-1. Piccola took the loss for USA dropping to 1-2. Daniel Latham pitched a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his fifth save of the season.