Steve Burnich had a two-RBI single on Wednesday

March 7, 2007

METAIRIE, La. - Brad Emaus hit an RBI-single up the middle to score Anthony Scelfo from second base with two outs in the bottom of the ninth as Tulane defeated UNC Asheville, 6-5, Wednesday evening at Zephyr Field.

With the score knotted 5-5 after eight and half innings, Scelfo drew a one out walk and advanced to second on a hit-and-run groundout by Cat Everett. After an intentional walk to Warren McFadden, Emaus hit a 3-2 pitch from reliever Josh Lett back up the box for the game winner marking the fifth time this season Asheville has lost in its opponents final at bat in the last nine games.

Tulane ran its winning streak to seven to improve to 11-4 on the year. UNC Asheville, meanwhile, dropped its ninth contest in a row to fall to 3-12.

Asheville out-hit the Green Wave, 10-7, but it would be Tulane that got the hits when they counted as all six runs scored with two outs.

"Our kids played hard today. We've had some rough stretches and the last couple of games we haven't played very good baseball. Tonight, though, we came out and played very good baseball and competed our tails off. We just came up short again," said Asheville coach Willie Stewart. "We have to execute the little things here and there. We have to get our bunts down, we have to have some clutch hits to fall down with runners in scoring position, and that's what we're not getting right now. We've got to continue to plug away at it. But as far as the way our guys played, I couldn't be more happy with the effort and the competitiveness that we had today."

After three scoreless innings, Asheville appeared to break open the game in the top of the fourth as six of the Bulldogs' 10 hits came in the stanza. Edmond Locklear opened the scoring with an RBI grounder, Justin Schumer made it 2-0 with a RBI-single and Steve Burnich put the finishing touches on a four-run frame with a two-run hit through the left side of the infield.

Ben Buchanan appeared to wiggle out of a two-on, two out jam, but Aja Barto came through with a two-run single to center to cut the lead in half. In the ensuing at-bat, Sean Morgan tied the game with a two-run homer to right center.

Schmur drew a lead off walk in the sixth and came around to score to give Asheville a one-run lead, but Seth Henry followed suit with a lead off walk in the seventh, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch, and scored on a sacrifice fly by McFadden.

The Bulldogs will open up the home portion of the season after 15 straight road games when they host Samford this weekend at Greenwood Field. The series opens Friday at 2 p.m. and continues Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m.