Jacob Newberry Throws A Complete Game in HPU Baseball’s 3-2 Loss at Tulane

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Senior Jacob Newberry turned in the second-straight complete game for the High Point University baseball team in a tight 3-2 loss to Tulane on Friday night in New Orleans, La. Newberry threw eight innings and allowed just eight hits in the contest.

“You have to make your own breaks on the road and we didn’t do that tonight,” head coach Craig Cozart said. “We had opportunities and got out quick but we didn’t do much from there. I am pleased that we pitched well and played some pretty good defense. Tulane is a very good team and little things show up on the road against a good team.”

Newberry scattered eight hits and a walk over his eight innings of work on Friday while also striking out five. The senior right hander allowed just three runs in the hard-luck loss.

The game turned in the bottom of the sixth inning when the umpires reversed a call that would have ended the inning and the Green Wave took advantage, scoring the go-ahead run. Garner hit a grounder up the middle that senior Willie Medina fielded and threw to first. The throw forced senior Ryan Retz to reach to his right, but the first baseman appeared to keep his foot on the bag as the runner was called out. The umpire crew met following an appeal from the Tulane coach and reversed the call, forcing Newberry and the HPU defense to come back out on the field.

Following the reversal, Tulane loaded the bases with a single by Blake Crohan and a walk by Garrett Cannizaro. The Green Wave’s Tim Yandall then put Tulane ahead with a two-strike single up the middle to make the score 3-2.

The Panthers were aggressive early in the game, swinging early in the count against Tulane starter Tony Rizzotti and the strategy paid off with four hits and two runs in the first inning. Sophomore Josh Spano hit a two-out single up the middle which was then followed by a single to center by freshman Brett Gemmell. With two on and two out Retz hit a towering double off the left-center wall to drive in both runners, giving HPU the early 2-0 lead. Rizzotti had allowed just 10 hits in his first three starts of the season before giving up four in the first inning to High Point.

Tulane tied the game in the bottom of the second inning with a two-run single by Cannizaro. The Green Wave put the first two runners on in the inning with a hit batter and a single by Garner. After a sacrifice bunt advanced the runners, Cannizaro hit a single back up the middle to drive in the pair.

Rizzotti got the win for Tulane after pitching eight innings and allowing two runs on five hits and a walk. Ian Gibaut earned the save for the Green Wave with a scoreless ninth.

Retz had a strong game for the Panthers, going 3-4 at the plate and driving in both HPU runs. Spano extended his hitting streak to 13 games with his first-inning single.

The loss drops High Point to 6-8 on the season while Tulane improves to 8-7.

The Panthers will look to even the series when they return to Turchin Field on Saturday, March 9, for the second game of the three-game set against Tulane. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. CST.