Tulane Puts Together Complete Game in 6-2 Win over Nicholls
Building on a solid outing by pitcher LuisPablo Navarro, being aggressive on the basepaths, and getting the big hits when it mattered, the Tulane baseball team put together possibly its most complete game of the season in a 6-2 victory over Nicholls, Tuesday night in Turchin Stadium.
The sophomore from Arizona, put together three innings of no-hit work, striking out five, and walking nary a Colonel. Julius Ejike-Charles, Tom Vincent, and Beau Sampson combined over the last six innings to give up only three hits, two runs, on one of which was earned and walking only two.
Navarro Pitches Perfectly
"LP (LuisPablo Navarro) pitched tremendously," Tulane coach Jay Uhlman said after the game. "Three innings of no-hit ball, it was one of those, 'Let's keep him out there,' but we're already in a tough place physically with some things right now. We've got a lot of innings and not a lot of arms. (but tonight) I thought we commanded the strike zone from the mound,"
"I didn't pitch in the World Series in the Fall (the Fall competition Tulane baseball holds at the end of Fall baseball)," Navarro said after the game. "Jay (Uhlman) told me, 'We'll see (how you're looking) in January.' I told myself, I'm going to give myself the opportunity (to pitch in the Spring). I'm going to show up for the team. I came back and improve a lot."
When asked what led to his improvement, he credited his parents.
"I talked a lot with my dad, my mom, too. They've been so supportive," Navarro shared. "My dad kept pushing me in the Winter. He said 'Don't take this (lack of pitching action with Tulane in the Fall) in a negative way. My dad was there, and it worked."
In the Fall, his fastball was in the mid-80s. Tuesday night, Navarro's heater was in the low 90s.
"I haven't started since junior college," the sophomore JUCO transfer said. "It was good to get back out there to start."
Wave Hitting Timely and Long
Though Green Wave batters managed only seven hits, they came when there were Greenies on base. Kaikea Harrison lead the way going three of four from the plate including a lead off double in the bottom of the first, scoring the first of his two runs.
"This past weekend, I didn't have my best," the senior shortstop said referring to the three games against UAB. "I think the most important thing for our offense is (getting) the leadoff man on. I start the game. I start the action. I start the noise, so it's nice to get the fast ball he gave me and hit it the other way."
1st baseman Trent Liolios continued his hot trend, going 1-for-2 with a walk and driving in three with a bases-clearing single in the seventh to tuck the game away for the Wave. Left fielder Tye Wood was moved down to 7th in the lineup and produced, walking twice, going 1-for-2, stealing a base, and scoring a run. Center fielder Tanner Chun, batting in the ninth slot for the fourth straight game after batting second most of the season, continued to contribute, drawing two walks, going 1-2 with the other Tulane double, scoring a run and getting a stolen base.
James Agabedis got the third base start, and though he went 1-for-4 in the game, that one hit was a solo home run that almost hit the Claiborne Bubble in right field in the bottom of the third.
"I just want them (his players) to be present mentally, compete, and focus" Uhlman told us when asked if this game was important after getting swept over the weekend. "If we can do those things, I'm okay with what we get. If I have to press them to get present, it's tough. I didn't have to do a lot of prodding tonight."
Tulane is back on the road for an Easter weekend Thursday, Friday, Saturday series against American Conference leading Wichita. The starting pitchers have not been announced yet for the Wave.
Doug has covered a gamut of sporting events in his fifty-plus years in the field. He started doing sideline reporting for Louisiana Tech football games for the student radio station. Doug was Sports Director for KNOE-AM/FM in Monroe in the mid-80s, winning numerous awards from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association for Best Sportscast and Best Play-by-Play. High school play-by-play for teams in Monroe, Natchitoches, New Orleans, and Thibodaux, LA dot his resume. He did college play-by-play for Northwestern State University in Natchitoches for nine years. Then, moving to the Crescent City, Doug did television PBP of Tulane games and even filled in for legendary Tulane broadcaster, Ken Berthelot in the only game Kenny ever missed while doing the Green Wave games. His father was an alumnus of Tulane in the 1940s, so Doug has attended Tulane football games in old Tulane Stadium, the Superdome, and Yulman. He was one of the 86,000 plus on December 1, 1973, sitting in the North End Zone to seeTulane shutout the LSU Tigers, 14-0. He was there when the Posse ruled Fogelman and in Turchin when the Wave made it to the World Series. He currently is the public address voice of the Tulane baseball team.