Feb. 18, 2005

Final Stats

NEW ORLEANS, La. - Junior centerfielder Nathan Southard hit a leadoff home run and the arms of juniors Brian Bogusevic and Billy Mohl combined for 11 strikeouts as the No. 1 ranked Tulane University baseball team defeated No. 11 Arizona State, 8-2, Friday evening at a packed Turchin Stadium.

The crowd of 3,784 on hand was the second largest in Turchin Stadium history, eclipsing the season-opening turnout of 3,664 at last Friday's season-opener vs. Southeast Missouri. Game two of the Tulane (5-0)/Arizona State (6-6) series is set for Saturday at 2 p.m. at Zephyr Field, and the two teams will close out the weekend at Turchin on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Bogusevic (2-0) went six strong innings in a starting role for the Green Wave, striking out six and walking three while scattering four hits to earn his second win of the year. Mohl, meanwhile, fanned five in three innings of relief to earn his first save of the season.

Everyone in the Tulane lineup had a hit, including a 2-for-3 showing by senior right fielder Matt Barket, and senior shortstop Tommy Manzella had a season-best three RBI.

Southard's leadoff bomb set the tone for Tulane as the Green Wave would score three in the first, including a two-run single by Manzella. Things would quite down over the next three innings before the Sun Devils clawed back in the game with a run courtesy of a leadoff walk and a base knock by centerfielder J.J. Sferra to make it 3-1.

The Green Wave quieted down any talks of a comeback in the home half of the frame as senior catcher Greg Dini and sophomore left fielder Mark Hamilton hit back-to-back doubles to open the frame before Bogusevic walked to lead the bases with nobody out. Manzella pushed the lead back to three runs with an RBI fielder's choice, and junior first baseman Micah Owings blew the game open with a two-run triple to right to give the home team a 7-1 advantage.

Tulane added a run in the sixth when Barket singled, advanced the bases on a steal and an error, and came around to score on a double-play ball off the bat of Hamilton. The Sun Devils would answer with an unearned run in the eighth, but Mohl would keep Arizona State at arm's reach the rest of the way.

ASU starter Jason Urquidez (1-1) was strapped with the loss after allowing seven runs (six earned) on six hits in five innings. Reliever Kevin Dryanski pitched solidly out of the bullpen, but did give a run on four hits in three innings of work.

TICKET INFORMATION: Tickets are still available for Saturday's game between Tulane and Arizona State at Zephyr Field. The Tulane Athletics Ticket Office will be open on Saturday from 9-11 a.m., and the Zephyr Field Box Office will open at 11:30 a.m. Gates open at 12:30 p.m. Saturday's game is the first of four game the Green Wave will play at Zephyr Field, and Tulane is offering "Three At The Z" ticket package that includes admission to the Arizona State, Cal State Fullerton and LSU contests for $30. If you can not make all three games, two-game ticket packages are available for $25 For more information on "Three At The Z" orders, or for season- and individual-ticket sales, contact the Tulane Athletics Ticket Office at (504) 861-WAVE.