NEW ORLEANS – No. 19 Tulane scored two runs in the first inning and never trailed in a shutout over the Illinois baseball team, 3-0, Saturday evening at Turchin Stadium. The Illini left eight runners on base while going 0 for 7 with men in scoring position.
"We didn't make any adjustments from last night," said head coach Dan Hartleb. "We need to make some adjustments at the plate to be a better club and be a little bit more composed with runners in scoring position."
The Illini managed just five hits, including two from senior catcher Jason Goldstein and a pair of doubles off the bat of Anthony Drago, a junior designated hitter. Drago's off-the-wall double in the fifth was his team-leading third extra-base hit in the first two games.
Illinois had runners in scoring position for four straight innings between the third and sixth, but each potential rally fizzled.
Doug Hayes (0-1) took the loss despite settling down after the opening frame. The left-hander allowed three runs on six hits while striking out four over 6.0 innings in his first career start.
Tulane (2-0) beat the Illini with two big hits. Lex Kaplan drove home two runs with a single to left center in the first and Jake Willsey launched a homer in the fourth. The Green Wave also struggled when threatening, going 3 for 19 with runners on against Illinois pitchers.
Three Fighting Illini freshmen made their career debuts after Hayes was taken out after six. Zak Devermann walked one batter in the eighth before Brendan Meissner and Joey Gerber threw scoreless frames in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively.
Alex Massey (1-0) shut down Illinois over 7.0 innings. The senior No. 2 starter allowed four hits and fanned eight.
Redshirt senior Andrew Mamlic is scheduled to start tomorrow against righty Emerson Gibbs. First pitch of the series finale is slated for 1 p.m. CT.
