From Arizona Athletics
SAN DIEGO – In a game that saw 28 hits and 21 runs, Tulane (4-1) defeated Arizona (2-3) by a score of 11-10. The Waves hit four home runs on the day.
For the fifth game in a row, Arizona got on the board first. Cody Ramer drew a leadoff walk and then Zach Gibbons launched a ground rule double over the right center fence. Ryan Agullar stepped up and lined a double to right center, scoring Ramer and Gibbons. With two outs and two strikes, JJ Matijevic added to that first-inning lead with a single that went just past second baseman Jake Willsey. Aguilar hustled around third and scored, making it 3-0 Arizona before Tulane could even take their first at bats.
Tulane responded right away as three singles and a three-run home run by Hunter Hope gave Tulane a 4-3 lead before starter JC Cloney could get an out. Cloney then induced a walk, but was able to pick him off for the first out. He was replaced by Bannister after he got the second out on a fly ball to centerfield. Bannister was able to limit the damage by striking out the first batter he faced.
The two pitchers settled in during the next two innings, but Arizona was able to take the lead back in the top of the fourth. Jared Oliva led off with a double down the left field line and Cesar Salazar followed that up with his first-career hit. Oliva would score on a wild pitch, and then Gibbons would drive home Salazar on his second hit of the day.
The Waves took the lead right back from Arizona in the bottom of the fourth. A single, double and another single resulted in two more runs by Tulane, but Bannister was able to get the next three batters out to limit the damage.
Arizona threatened in the top half of the sixth inning as Ramer and Alfonso Rivas III came up with two-out singles. Gibbons earned his third hit of the day on an infield single, and an errant throw allowed Ramer to score and Rivas to advance to third base, On the next pitch, Rivas came home on a pass ball, giving Arizona a 7-6 lead. The Wildcats could not extend their lead though.
Once again, Tulane came right back in the bottom half of the inning after Willsey hit a two-run home run to left field. After a walk and a strikeout, Matt Hartman came on to pitch for Arizona. Stephen Alemais doubled and scored Grant Brown, but Alemais was thrown out at third. On the ensuing pitch, Jake Rogers hit a solo home run to center field, extending the Tulane lead to 10-7.
Matijevic recorded his third hit of the game in the top of the seventh with a double to centerfield and Justin Behnke followed it up with a walk. Tulane went to the bullpen and Arizona would go on to score three runs. With the bases loaded Rivas hit a groundball to second base and he was able to beat out the throw. Behnke and Matijevic would come around to score. After Gibbons was hit by a pitch, Ramer would score on a wild pitch, tying the game at 10. Aguilar walked to load the bases, but Bobby Dalbec could not bring him home as he struck out swinging.
Dalbec would come on to pitch in the bottom of the seventh, and he struck out the first two batters he faced and got the next to fly out to left. That would be the first time all game that Arizona held Tulane scoreless after scoring runs in the top half of the inning.
After Arizona went down in order in the top of the eighth, Willsey hit his second home run of the day to lead off the bottom half of the eighth. This one was a solo shot to right field and gave Tulane an 11-10 lead.
Tulane pitcher Tim Yandel sent down Arizona in order in the top of the ninth and the Waves won 11-10.
Arizona will face the loser of the Nebraska-San Diego game that followed after conclusion of the Arizona-Tulane game. The time is TBD.
Game Notes
Arizona has scored first in every game this season.
Tulane scored four runs in the first inning. That is the first time all season Arizona has allowed a first-inning run.
Cody Ramer, Zach Gibbons and Ryan Aguilar have reached base in all five games this season.
Arizona was 9-17 with two outs and 10-22 with runners on base.
Gibbons, Matijevic and Rivas had their first multiple-hit games of the season as they each collected three apiece today. This is just the third time in his career that Matijevic has gone for three hits in a game and it also ties a career high.
The Wildcats tallied 14 hits and 10 runs on the day. Both are season highs.
SAN DIEGO – In a game that saw 28 hits and 21 runs, Tulane (4-1) defeated Arizona (2-3) by a score of 11-10. The Waves hit four home runs on the day.
For the fifth game in a row, Arizona got on the board first. Cody Ramer drew a leadoff walk and then Zach Gibbons launched a ground rule double over the right center fence. Ryan Agullar stepped up and lined a double to right center, scoring Ramer and Gibbons. With two outs and two strikes, JJ Matijevic added to that first-inning lead with a single that went just past second baseman Jake Willsey. Aguilar hustled around third and scored, making it 3-0 Arizona before Tulane could even take their first at bats.
Tulane responded right away as three singles and a three-run home run by Hunter Hope gave Tulane a 4-3 lead before starter JC Cloney could get an out. Cloney then induced a walk, but was able to pick him off for the first out. He was replaced by Bannister after he got the second out on a fly ball to centerfield. Bannister was able to limit the damage by striking out the first batter he faced.
The two pitchers settled in during the next two innings, but Arizona was able to take the lead back in the top of the fourth. Jared Oliva led off with a double down the left field line and Cesar Salazar followed that up with his first-career hit. Oliva would score on a wild pitch, and then Gibbons would drive home Salazar on his second hit of the day.
The Waves took the lead right back from Arizona in the bottom of the fourth. A single, double and another single resulted in two more runs by Tulane, but Bannister was able to get the next three batters out to limit the damage.
Arizona threatened in the top half of the sixth inning as Ramer and Alfonso Rivas III came up with two-out singles. Gibbons earned his third hit of the day on an infield single, and an errant throw allowed Ramer to score and Rivas to advance to third base, On the next pitch, Rivas came home on a pass ball, giving Arizona a 7-6 lead. The Wildcats could not extend their lead though.
Once again, Tulane came right back in the bottom half of the inning after Willsey hit a two-run home run to left field. After a walk and a strikeout, Matt Hartman came on to pitch for Arizona. Stephen Alemais doubled and scored Grant Brown, but Alemais was thrown out at third. On the ensuing pitch, Jake Rogers hit a solo home run to center field, extending the Tulane lead to 10-7.
Matijevic recorded his third hit of the game in the top of the seventh with a double to centerfield and Justin Behnke followed it up with a walk. Tulane went to the bullpen and Arizona would go on to score three runs. With the bases loaded Rivas hit a groundball to second base and he was able to beat out the throw. Behnke and Matijevic would come around to score. After Gibbons was hit by a pitch, Ramer would score on a wild pitch, tying the game at 10. Aguilar walked to load the bases, but Bobby Dalbec could not bring him home as he struck out swinging.
Dalbec would come on to pitch in the bottom of the seventh, and he struck out the first two batters he faced and got the next to fly out to left. That would be the first time all game that Arizona held Tulane scoreless after scoring runs in the top half of the inning.
After Arizona went down in order in the top of the eighth, Willsey hit his second home run of the day to lead off the bottom half of the eighth. This one was a solo shot to right field and gave Tulane an 11-10 lead.
Tulane pitcher Tim Yandel sent down Arizona in order in the top of the ninth and the Waves won 11-10.
Arizona will face the loser of the Nebraska-San Diego game that followed after conclusion of the Arizona-Tulane game. The time is TBD.
Game Notes
Arizona has scored first in every game this season.
Tulane scored four runs in the first inning. That is the first time all season Arizona has allowed a first-inning run.
Cody Ramer, Zach Gibbons and Ryan Aguilar have reached base in all five games this season.
Arizona was 9-17 with two outs and 10-22 with runners on base.
Gibbons, Matijevic and Rivas had their first multiple-hit games of the season as they each collected three apiece today. This is just the third time in his career that Matijevic has gone for three hits in a game and it also ties a career high.
The Wildcats tallied 14 hits and 10 runs on the day. Both are season highs.
