NEW ORLEANS - Striking first and leading through the first three innings, a few bad bounces paved the way for a strong Tulane University (4-0) team to jump on Lamar University (3-1). The Cards scored one in the first but were held off the board the rest of the night as Tulane won the game 8-1.

Avery George singled in the first at-bat of the game, reached second on a passed ball, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on an RBI grounder from Jorge Gutierrez. That would be the only run scored by either team for the next three and a half innings. Neither team had another hit until the bottom of the fourth when Tulane tied the game at 1-1 off of two hits, a passed ball, and a wild pitch.

Two more runs scored for Tulane in the fifth. Starter Taylor Rich got the first out on a 4-3 grounder and was retired. Two singles, a hit-by-pitch, a walk, and a sac fly scored the two runs for Tulane before a foul out to Robin Adames ended the inning. After five Tulane led 3-1.

The sixth inning put the game out of reach for Lamar. The lead-off batter was struck out, but bad luck struck twice in left field. What appeared to be a routine fly ball turned into a triple after it caught in the jet stream and careened off the wall. The next at-bat also sent a ball to left where it appeared the ball would land foul. Instead the wind switched directions and pushed the ball just fair, allowing a second consecutive triple and the run to score. A sac fly scored another run, and then three more hits and a walk pushed three more Wave across before a strikeout ended the inning. Tulane led 8-1 after six.

Neither team scored in the seventh but Tulane put one more across in the eighth for the final margin - 9-1 Tulane over Lamar.

The Cards return to action quickly with another game at Tulane on Wednesday. Dylan Johnson will take the mound for LU.