NEW ORLEANS, La. - Freshman catcher Blake Crohan blasted a game-winning two-run homer in the bottom of the tenth inning as Tulane University (7-6) pulled out a 4-2 non-conference victory over the Tigers (1-11) in the opening game of their three-game weekend series at Greer Field on Friday night.
Crohan's game-winning homer broke up a tight pitcher's duel in which both teams got very good efforts on the mound. For the Tigers, the loss was their tenth consecutive defeat and their toughest loss of the young season.
Senior righthander Nate Curd of Towson turned in one of the best pitching performances of his career. Making his fourth start of the season, Curd pitched seven innings and allowed only two runs on six hits. He walked two batters and had a pair of strikeouts. Curd was relieved by junior righthander Drew Permison in the eighth inning. Permison pitched two shutout innings before giving up the game-winning homer in the bottom of the tenth inning.
Junior righthander Conrad Flynn of Tulane matched Curd pitch-for-pitch through eight innings. He allowed two runs on eight hits with no walks six strikeouts. Junior righthander Nick Pepitone, who earned the win in relief, pitched two hitless innings and struck out two.
"We got a great pitching effort from Nate Curd," said Towson Coach Mike Gottlieb. "We had some chances to score some more runs for him but we came up short. Overall, we played a pretty good game. We're disappointed that we lost but we hope we can build on this and win tomorrow."
Playing their 12th consecutive road game, the Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. With one out, senior first baseman Steve Yarsinsky singled to centerfield. When freshman catcher Andrew Parker doubled to rightfield, Yarsinsky moved over to third base. A two-out single by junior third baseman Austin Harclerode allowed Yarsinsky to score the go-ahead run. However, Parker was thrown out at the plate trying to score, ending the inning.
The Green Wave came right back to tie the game in the bottom of the second inning. Sophomore Rob Segedin and freshman Garrett Cannizaro opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Freshman Brandon Boudreaux drove in the tying run when he grounded into a force play. However, Parker threw Boudreaux out as he tried to steal second base, ending the threat.
In the third inning, junior shortstop Nick Natoli manufactured the go-ahead run for the Tigers. With one out, he reached base on an infield single and stole second base. After advancing to third base on an infield grounder, he gave the Tigers a 2-1 lead when he scored on a base hit by junior second baseman Chris Wychock.
Tulane tied the game in the fifth inning when Boudreaux led off with a single and was sacrificed to second base. Back-to-back walks to Brennan Middleton and Karl Mundt loaded the bases with one out. Boudreaux scored the tying run on Nick Boullosa's sacrifice fly to rightfield. But the inning came to an end when rightfielder Kevin Collins threw out Mundt trying to advance to second base.
After allowing two runs in the first three innings, Flynn settled down and shut down the Tigers for the next five innings.
The Green Wave nearly pulled out a win in the bottom of the ninth inning. After Segedin led off the inning with a double, Tulane proceeded to load the bases before Permison worked out of the jam.
After retiring the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the tenth, Permison walked Matt Ryan on a 3-2 pitch. Then, he gave up the game-winning homer to Crohan.
Each team had eight base hits in the game. Yarsinsky led the Tigers with three base hits while Natoli had one hit and stole two bases.
Towson and Tulane continue their series with a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Greer Field.
