Box Score NEW ORLEANS – Holding a top-ranked offense scoreless for six innings, Lamar University (7-10) matched #20 Tulane (15-2) punch for punch on Wednesday, briefly leading in the Big Easy. Ultimately a three-run fourth inning caught up to Lamar, and the Cards fell 6-3 to the Green Wave.
 
Cole Girouard got things started for Lamar in the top of the first, singling with one out. Anthony Quirion took that and went one step further, atomizing a ball that traveled over 450 feet over the batter's eye in center field. Lamar led 2-0 and got another hit, a double from Matthew McDonald, and a hit-by-pitch of Chase Kemp before a grounder to second ended the inning. Starter Josh Hranicky stranded a two-out single at third, and through one in the Big Easy Lamar led 2-0.
 
A lead-off double from Jose Cintron to open the second came home on a two-out single by Girouard, but LU couldn't do any more with a strikeout ending the frame. Tulane responded with one run in the bottom of the inning on a two out single, an error, and another single. Through two Lamar held a 3-1 lead.
 
Tulane's one-out error allowed Weyler to reach, but he was called out for leaving the base path on a fielder's choice from Kemp. A single by Cole Secrest through the left side put Kemp in scoring position, and a passed ball put both Cards closer to home before a 5-3 grounder cut short the scoring opportunity. A double and a homer off the right field Tabasco sign with one out scored two for the Green Wave before Max Mize got a strikeout and 6-3 grounder to end the inning. Through three innings the game was tied at 3-3.
 
The fourth opened with a lead-off walk of Rhett McCall, and he reached third on back-to-back wild pitches, but a tough 6-3 grounder stranded McCall 90 feet from home. Tulane put three more across in the bottom half of the inning on a hit-by-pitch, a double, a triple, and an error on a throw home. Through four innings Tulane held a 6-3 lead.
 
It was nothing-doing for either team in the fifth and sixth, and Lamar again got a runner 90 feet from home in the seventh. Matthew McDonald was walked with two outs, stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch, but a strikeout kept him just one base away from scoring. The Green Wave opened the inning with a single through the right side, but a flyer to left, a popup to right, and a strikeout kept the runner off the board. Through seven, Lamar trailed 6-3.
 
Lamar had one final chance to keep things going in the ninth inning. Cole Coker pinch hit for McCall and was promptly walked, and a wild pitch put the senior on second base. Girouard drew a one-out walk to put two on, but the game ended on a tough 6-4-3 double play. Tulane held on to win 6-3 over the Cards with LU holding one of the best offenses in the country hitless in the final five innings.
 
Big Red returns to action on Friday with the first of three games against McNeese. First pitch for the Battle of the Border is set for 6 p.m.
 
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