NEW ORLEANS ? Tulane got big production from the top of the lineup and a brilliant performance from left-hander Aaron Loup, as the Green Wave shut out the University of New Orleans 14-0 on Wednesday evening at Turchin Stadium.
Scott Powell went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, and Sam Honeck homered for the second straight game as Tulane (24-17) clinched the First NBC Bank Cup ? a best of three series between the Crescent City rivals.
Powell, Honeck (2-for-3, 3 RBIs) and Josh Prince (2-for-4) combined to go 7-for-11 with seven runs scored and four RBIs.
Loup (2-3) did the rest, going seven innings and allowing only three hits. The junior tied his career high with eight strikeouts.
The Green Wave put the game away early, scoring five runs in the first inning off UNO starter Jake Henderson (3-6). Henderson struggled in his third straight midweek start, allowing 11 hits and eight runs in three innings.
“We just haven't been able to rally when we don't get the starting pitching,” said UNO head coach Tom Walter. “Jake's pitched in a lot of big games for us, but he just struggled tonight.”
Tulane had 15 hits overall and scored in five of its first six at-bats. The Green Wave scored all of their runs in the first six innings.
Green Wave relievers Ryan Doiron and Mason Griffin threw scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth, respectively.
The Tulane pitching trio faced just two batters over the minimum, as UNO (15-25) mustered only four hits and hit into three double plays. Loup's only blemish was one walk.
It was the second time the Privateers have been shut out this year.
UNO will host Arkansas State in an important Sun Belt Conference series this weekend. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Friday at Maestri Field.
