The Tulane baseball team opened its 2026 season with a 12-3 win over Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles on Friday night. The Green Wave scored 12 runs on nine hits, drew eight walks, and were hit by pitches five times. Tulane pitchers struck out 14 batters while giving up only four hits and three runs. The team also played without committing any errors.
Senior pitcher J.D. Rodriguez earned the win in relief, pitching 4.2 innings, allowing two hits and two walks, and striking out a career-high nine batters. Trey Cehajic started for Tulane, going 3.1 innings with three runs allowed and five strikeouts. Jude Abaddessa finished the game with a scoreless inning to secure the victory.
Offensively, AJ Groeneveld and Tanner Chun each drove in three runs for Tulane. Matthias Haas and Jason Wachs contributed two RBIs apiece, with Haas also drawing two walks. Kaikea Harrison had three hits, scored twice, and added an RBI; he was the only player from Tulane to record multiple hits in the game. Tye Wood scored three times and walked twice; Trent Liolios had a run scored, an RBI, one hit, and two walks; James Agabedis III also scored a run and walked once.
Tulane started strong by scoring four runs in the first inning: Haas walked with the bases loaded before Groeneveld hit a three-run triple. Loyola Marymount responded with their first run when DJ Ghiorso drew a bases-loaded walk.
In the second inning, Tulane added three more runs through an RBI fielder’s choice by Wachs, a bases-loaded walk from Liolios, and Haas being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. LMU got two runs back in their half of the second via Alex Gamboa’s two-run home run.
The score remained 7-3 until Tulane’s ninth-inning rally brought in five more insurance runs: Harrison singled in one run; Wachs was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded; Chun followed up with a three-run double.
Loyola Marymount loaded the bases in their last at-bat but failed to score after Abbadessa induced a double play followed by a groundout to end the game.
Jason Wachs extended his on-base streak to 27 games dating back to last season after being hit by a pitch against LMU—a personal best for him. J.D. Rodriguez improved his record as a Division I pitcher to 2-0 when playing in California; he previously defeated Long Beach State last season as well.
Nine players made their debuts for Tulane during this game: Tye Wood, Evan Berg, Trent Liolios, AJ Groeneveld, Jack Johnson, Bryson Ayala, and Jude Abaddessa among them.
The team’s total of 12 runs is its highest since scoring 12 against Florida Atlantic last season (May 2), though that earlier contest resulted in defeat for Tulane. This marks the second consecutive opening day where Tulane has put up twelve runs.
Tulane will continue its series against Loyola Marymount on Saturday at 5 p.m Central Time.
