CLEARWATER, Fla. – Colin Tuft’s 2-run home run in the bottom of the eighth propelled No. 3 seed Tulane to a 7-5 win over No. 7 seed Charlotte at the 2024 American Baseball Championship presented by Regions on Thursday evening, May 23 at BayCare Ballpark.
The 49ers (24-33) will now face Florida Atlantic in an elimination game on Friday, May 24, 47 minutes after East Carolina/Rice at 1 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+. The Green Wave (33-24) will await the winner of the Charlotte/FAU contest on Saturday, May 25 after the first game of the day that is scheduled for 9 a.m. Eastern on ESPN+.
Tied at 5-5 in the bottom of the eighth, Michael Lombardi reached on an error before Tuft hit his 10
th home run of the season, a deep shot to left, to give the Green Wave the lead.
Carter Benbrook (3-1) then pitched the second of two scoreless innings to secure the Tulane win.
Teo Banks, the 2023 American Championship’s Most Outstanding Player, was 3-for-3 with three runs scored, including a solo home run in the third inning.
Carson Bayne was 2-for-4 with two runs scored while Reid Haire drove in two runs for the 49ers. Joseph Taylor (3-5) took the loss, allowing two unearned runs in three innings of work.
2024 American Baseball Championship presented by Regions
BayCare Ballpark | Clearwater, Fla.
Championship Central
Schedule
Tuesday, May 21
Game 1: No. 4 Wichita State 8, No. 5 UAB 2 |
Box Score |
Highlights
Game 2: No. 1 East Carolina 12, No. 8 Rice 4 |
Box Score |
Highlights
Game 3: No. 7 Charlotte 9, No. 2 UTSA 5 (12 innings) |
Box Score |
Highlights
Game 4: No. 3 Tulane 14, No. 6 Florida Atlantic (7 innings) |
Box Score |
Highlights
Wednesday, May 22
Game 5: Rice 9, UAB 0 (UAB Eliminated) |
Box Score |
Highlights
Game 6: Florida Atlantic 12, UTSA 5 (UTSA eliminated) |
Box Score |
Highlights
Thursday, May 23
Game 7: Wichita State 14, East Carolina 4 |
Box Score |
Highlights
Game 8: Tulane 7, Charlotte 5 |
Box Score |
Highlights
Friday, May 24
Game 9: Rice vs. East Carolina | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 10: Charlotte vs. Florida Atlantic | 47 minutes after Game 9 | ESPN+
Saturday, May 25
Game 11: Wichita State vs. Winner of Game 9 | 9 a.m. | ESPN+
Game 12: Tulane vs. Winner of Game 10 | 47 minutes after Game 11 | ESPN+
Game 13: Wichita State vs. Winner of Game 11 (if necessary) | TBD | ESPN+
Game 14: Tulane vs. Winner of Game 12 (if necessary) | TBD | ESPN+
Sunday, May 26
Game 15: Semifinal Winners | Noon | ESPNEWS/ESPN+
All times listed are Eastern.