Tulane opens C-USA tournament

• Advocate news services
• Published: May 21, 2008 - UPDATED: 6:18 a.m.

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NEW ORLEANS — Tulane’s baseball team opens play in the Entergy Conference USA Baseball Championship at 7:30 p.m. today against Marshall at the new Greer Field at Turchin Stadium.

The Green Wave (36-18-1) enters the tournament as the No. 2 seed in the eight-team field, while Marshall (26-28) is the sixth seed.

“This is what you’re here for,” Tulane infielder/outfielder Anthony Scelfo, a first-team Conference USA selection, said. “Every team in Division I has a goal and that goal is to get to Omaha and play for the national championship. This is where it starts.”

The Green Wave is hitting .291 as a team with a .453 slugging percentage and 54 home runs. Third baseman Rob Segedin, a second-team All-Conference USA pick, leads the team with a .340 average while infielder Seth Henry (.335) and Scelfo (.327) are close behind.

Scelfo leads the Wave with 11 home runs, while Segedin (second-team All-Conference USA) has a club-best 56 RBIs. Outfielder Aja Barto is 20-of-23 on stolen bases tries.

Conference USA Pitcher of the Year Shooter Hunt (9-2, 2.10 ERA) leads the Green Wave pitching staff, which sports a 4.09 ERA.

Hunt has held opposing batters to a .148 average to go with 110 strikeouts in 852/3 innings. Right-hander Mason Griffin leads the Wave with seven saves.

Tulane and Marshall split two games this season with the rubber match ending in a 10-10 tie.

“We had a very competitive series against Marshall,” Tulane coach Rick Jones said. “They had a very good year and they’re one of the main reasons why the league is as good as it is.”

SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA VS. LAMAR: The Lions will be making their first appearance in the Southland Conference tournament since 2005 when they take on Lamar at noon today.

Seventh-seeded SLU (29-25) dropped two of three against No. 2 seed Lamar (32-31) during the regular season.

The Lions, winners of five of their last seven, will sent senior left-hander Brent Varnado (3-4, 3.37 ERA) to the mound to face first-team All-SLC pitcher Brian Sisk (9-2, 3.46).