Posted on Sun, Apr. 20, 2008
Resize text
Tulane continues mastery of USM
Wave aims for sweep today
By AL JONES
afjones@sunherald.com
MOST-READ STORIES
- THE WEEK IN CRIME
- Saints pick Pressley tries to overcome injury-plagued past
- MOTORCYCLE CIRCUIT CHANGING DIRECTION
- Man dies after late-night blaze
- Police investigating three-vehicle crash in Orange Grove
- Ellis progressing well in practice
- Coastians still lack housing
- Authorities arrest 22 in Gulfport drug roundup
- One hurt in 3-car crash on U.S. 49
- Coast Guard accepts cutter
NEW ORLEANS --
Tulane continued its domination of Southern Miss with a 4-2 win at Turchin Field on Saturday.The Green Wave (27-11-1) has now won eight consecutive home games against the Golden Eagles (25-13). The win also clinched the Wave's sixth straight Conference USA home series win.
Southern Miss' last series win at Tulane came during the 1996 season, the first year of C-USA.
In C-USA play, Tulane, which goes for the sweep today at 1 p.m., improved to 6-4-1 while the Golden Eagles fell to 5-6.
"I haven't won one down here in a long time," Southern Miss coach Corky Palmer said. "I don't know when it was."
Palmer's last win at Tulane was a 7-5 victory on May 7, 2000 in the final game of that series.
"Some teams you just have more success against," Tulane coach Rick Jones said. "I don't know what it is."
The Golden Eagles blew a chance to take a lead in the top of the first off Matt Petiton. After James Ewing led the inning off with a groundout, Brian Dozier singled to center before Trey Cuevas reached base thanks to an error by Green Wave shortstop Seth Henry.
Following a strikeout by Michael Ewing and a walk to Drew Carson that loaded the bases, Petiton got Josh Fields looking on a third strike to end the inning.
"We didn't get the big hit," Palmer said. "I don't think it (our losing streak) has anything to do with Tulane. We just can't get the big hit.
"For us, everything has to go right. We can't outhit our mistakes."
In the third, and Southern Miss trailing 1-0, the Golden Eagles took a short-lived 2-1 lead off the bat of Cuevas, a senior designated hitter.
With Dozier on second after a double, Cuevas hit his fourth home run of the season to give the Golden Eagles a 2-1 lead.
The game, however, was decided in the bottom of the third when the Green Wave got to McInnis with three runs off three hits and a costly walk.
In fact, it was a one-out walk by McInnis (6-2) to Anthony Scelfo that kicked started the Green Wave's rally.
After a wild pitch sent Scelfo to second, Seth Henry doubled to left to tie the game.
"I came out and let my team down," McInnis said. "It was a big-time control issue. The (walk) was huge. I get the first (out), then I miss on the next hitter. It had a snowball effect from there."
Using back-to-back singles by Rob Segedin and Sam Honeck, the Wave pushed the lead to 4-2.
McInnis worked 31/3 innings, allowing five hits with four walks while throwing 89 pitches.
The Green Wave would only get two hits the rest of the game off Wade Weathers.
"We will play hard (today)," Palmer said. "This is one setback."
