A Late Collapse at Rice
Tulane baseball saw its 2026 campaign end in heartbreaking fashion, dropping an 11‑inning game to conference rival Rice. The loss dropped the Green Wave to 25‑31 overall and left them at the bottom of the American Conference standings.
The Wave had held the lead for most of the contest, maintaining a slim advantage deep into the ninth inning. However, a clutch rally by the Owls turned the tide, forcing the game into extra frames and ultimately sealing the victory.
Fielding proved costly. Tulane committed five errors, the most the team has recorded in a single game this season, each misplay shifting momentum in Rice’s favor.
Offensively, the Wave found spark in several key contributors. Jack Johnson drew two of the team’s four walks, while Jason Wachs launched a two‑run homer in the third inning. Bryson Ayala added a two‑run double in the eighth, briefly extending the lead.
On the mound, starter LuisPablo Navarro delivered a solid outing, tossing 4.2 innings without allowing a run. Relievers Jack Brafa and Julius Ejike‑Charles were less effective; Brafa surrendered one earned run over 2.1 innings, and Ejike‑Charles gave up two earned runs before completing just two‑thirds of an inning.
Despite the final loss, the performance highlighted both promising moments and the inconsistencies that have defined the season. The Green Wave will look to build on the offensive firepower shown by Johnson, Wachs and Ayala while tightening up defensive execution for future campaigns.