New Orleans, LA - The Saint Mary's baseball team's bats came alive today, as the Gaels scored six runs on seven hits, including a grand slam from slugger Troy Channing.  It wouldn't be enough however, as Tulane scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh, defeating Saint Mary's 9-6 Saturday afternoon at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium.

"We made some mistakes defensively, we gave up nine runs, four of them were earned," said head coach Jedd Soto.  "We made it awful tough for us to get a win on the road.  We expect this young group to comeback and learn from today's mistakes.  Troy had the big knock, a grand slam, which was a real boost."

With Saint Mary's (5-8) trailing 5-2 in the top of the seventh, the Gaels put together their most promising rally of the afternoon.  Getting things started Chris Murphy singled to first on a bunt, it was Murphy's second hit of the day and fourth hit of the series.  Mickey Reynolds reached on an error from the second baseman, moving Murphy to third.  Ryan Mulligan followed that up with a walk, loading the bases for Channing, who promptly cleared the bases with his sixth homerun of the season, a huge blast over the centerfield fence.

Tulane (14-6) answered, scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh to take the lead, 9-6.  Taylor Reid came in on relief for Dorsey Ek, after Ek got the Gaels out of trouble in the bottom of the sixth.  However, SMC could not keep the Green Waves off the bases, as they scored four runs, off three hits, with a costly Gaels error.  A single through the middle off the bat of Garrett Canniaro scored Jeremy Schaffer and Rob Segedin, to seal the win for Tulane.

Taking the hard-luck loss for the Gaels was the reliever Ek, whose line for the day was one inning pitched, surrendering three hits, four runs; none earned one walk and one strike out.  Starting on the mound for the Gaels was Kyle Barraclough, who pitched 5.2 innings, surrendering eight hits, five runs, four earned, two walks and one strikeout.

Earning the win for Tulane was reliever Preston Claiborn, who pitched 1.2 innings, surrendering two hits, two runs, none earned, two walks and one strike out.  Starting on the bump for the Green Wave was Alex Byo, who pitched 6.1 innings scattering five hits, four runs, one earned, with two walks and six strike outs.  Reliever Matt Pepiton worked scoreless ninth to earn his fourth save of the season.

Saint Mary's will play the getaway game on Sunday, March 21; the game time has been moved, with the first pitch scheduled for noon central, 10 a.m. PST.