American Athletic Conference/Julio Aguilar

No. 5 Tulane Defeats No. 8 South Florida, 9-6, in an Elimination Game at 2022 TicketSmarter American Baseball Championship

05.25.22

CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
 
CLEARWATER, Florida – Teo Banks hit his first career home run and drove in four runs as fifth-seeded Tulane defeated No. 8 South Florida, 9-6, in an elimination game at the 2022 TicketSmarter American Athletic Conference Baseball Championship Wednesday afternoon at BayCare Ballpark.
 
With the win, Tulane (32-25-1) will face the loser of Thursday’s game between Cincinnati and East Carolina on Friday, May 27, at 1 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+. With the loss, South Florida concludes its season at 28-29.
 
After South Florida took a 3-1 lead on Drew Brutcher’s 13th home run of the season, a 3-run shot to left, Tulane scored six in the bottom of the fourth, highlighted by a triple from Banks that scored Luis Aviles and Brady Marget.
 
Brutcher would close the gap to 7-5 on a 2-run single in the top of the fifth, but Banks would step up in the sixth and hit a 2-run long ball down the left field line.
 
Brian Valigosky (1-0) earned the win, allowing two runs in 2.1 innings of relief. Michael Massey picked up the save, his first of the season, pitching the last four innings in relief with only one run allowed. Ethan Brown (3-3) took the loss, allowing five runs in 3.2 innings of work.
 
2022 TicketSmarter American Athletic Conference Baseball Championship
 
Schedule
Tuesday, May 24
Game 1: No. 4 Cincinnati 8, No. 5 Tulane 1
Game 2: No. 1 East Carolina 7, No. 8 South Florida 1
Game 3: No. 7 Memphis 7, No. 2 UCF 6
Game 4: No. 3 Houston 10, No. 6 Wichita State 7
 
Wednesday, May 25
Game 5: Tulane 9, South Florida 6
Game 6: Wichita State vs. UCF | 47 minutes after Game 5 | ESPN+
 
Thursday, May 26
Game 7: Cincinnati vs. East Carolina | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 8: Memphis vs. Houston | 47 minutes after Game 7 | ESPN+
 
Friday, May 27
Game 9: Tulane vs. Loser of Game 7 | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 10: Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 8 | 47 minutes after Game 9 | ESPN+
 
Saturday, May 28
Game 11: Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 9 | 9 a.m. | ESPN+
Game 12: Winner of Game 8 vs. Winner of Game 10 | 47 minutes after Game 11 | ESPN+
Game 13 (If Necessary): Loser of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 11 | 47 minutes after Game 12 | ESPN+
Game 14 (If Necessary): Loser of Game 12 vs. Winner of Game 12 | 47 minutes after Game 13 | ESPN+
 
Sunday, May 29
Game 15: Semifinal Winners | Noon | ESPNEWS