Wave is getting it together
April 25, 2008
Wave is getting it together- NOLA.com
Tulane looks to gain ground in C-USA against Memphis
Friday, April 25, 2008
By Nakia HoganThe baseball season hasn’t gone as smoothly as some Tulane supporters would like. There have been inconsistencies at the plate and on the mound.
But the Green Wave just might have it all figured out.
After struggling to find the right weekend rotation for much of the season, it appears the Tulane coaches have settled on a starting staff of Shooter Hunt, Matt Petiton and Taylor Rogers.
And led by freshman Rob Segedin, the Conference USA co-Hitter of the Week, the Green Wave has increased its team batting average to .291.
That combination couldn’t have come at a better time for the Green Wave, which begins a pivotal three-game C-USA series at Memphis today.
The Tigers (16-25, 4-8) have struggled this season, ranking last in the nine-team conference in team batting average (.252) and seventh in ERA (5.35). Memphis has lost 15 of its past 20 games.
Tulane Coach Rick Jones declined to be interviewed for this story. But those statistics likely aren’t lost on the Green Wave (27-13-1, 6-5-1).
With a strong showing this weekend and another solid outing next weekend against another league cellar-dweller — Central Florida — Tulane, which is in third place in C-USA behind Rice and East Carolina, can play its way back to the top of the conference race.
The Green Wave, coming off two victories in a three-game series against Southern Mississippi, can’t afford to overlook Memphis. The Green Wave lost two of three at home to the Tigers last season.
But in Hunt, Petiton and Rogers, the Green Wave has a formidable pitching rotation that can pose problems for the Memphis batters.
Hunt (6-1, 1.59 ERA), the staff ace, hasn’t allowed more than four hits in any start this season.
After toiling in the bullpen earlier in the season, Petiton (4-0, 1.71) has emerged, and Rogers (3-0, 2.73) has been solid in most of his outings.
With an improving pitching staff, the Green Wave has been happy to see Segedin, a freshman third baseman, thrive in his first collegiate season. Segedin, who is batting a team-best .336 with 41 RBIs, has hit three of his five home runs in Tulane’s past four games.
Now, the Green Wave is hoping it doesn’t have a setback.
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Nakia Hogan can be reached at nhogan@timespicayune.com or (504) 826-3405.
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