UNO shortstop Jake D’Altrui made the most of his at-bat with the bases loaded in the bottom of the first inning in Tuesday’s Pelican Cup matchup against Tulane.

D’Altrui hit a 3-run home run last year at Tulane’s Turchin Stadium, and he delivered again this year for UNO with a grand slam to deep left field. UNO went up by five runs after D’Altrui’s long ball, which led to an 11-3 win over Tulane at Maestri Field.

Tuesday’s matchup between UNO and Tulane was the first meeting this season between the two crosstown rivals. UNO retained the Pelicans Cup and has now won each of the past four meetings against Tulane dating back to the 2024 baseball season.

“The guys played well,” UNO first-year coach Andrew Gipson said. “Any time you hold a team to three (runs), you have a chance to win, and we did that. I thought we had quality at-bats up and down the lineup. It was a really good night for us.”

Tulane led 1-0 in the top of the first inning, but a 2-run home run to deep left by UNO centerfielder Owen Smith gave the Privateers their first lead of the game in the bottom of the first.

“(The home runs) were huge,” Gipson said. “We told the guys from the outset that (Tulane pitcher Jude Abbadessa) is going to throw fastballs, let’s get to the front it. Owen (Smith) did that, and it was good to see Jake (D’Altrui) do what he did.”

UNO never trailed after the first inning, as D’Altrui’s grand slam off Abbadessa followed Smith’s 2-run blast. A returning senior, D’Altrui finished 1 for 3 at the plate with four RBIs and two runs scored.

“I just tried to get my foot down, and (Abbadessa) threw me something over the plate,” D’Altrui said. “I got extended on it, and I hit it pretty good. To have the success we’ve had against Tulane is awesome.”

UNO third baseman Eli Tidwell went 3 for 4 at the plate with an RBI double and a run scored from the leadoff spot along. Smith hit second in the order and finished 3 for 5 with three RBIs and two runs scored.

Left-hander Bryson Goff started on the mound for UNO and was the game’s winning pitcher. He threw 5.1 innings, allowing three earned runs, four hits and three walks to go with four strikeouts.

“Everything was working pretty well today, so I was glad about that,” Goff said. “As the game went on, my two-seam and my changeup started getting better. It just moved more, and I got more swings and misses.”

UNO’s bullpen arms allowed no runs, which included starting catcher Karson Evans. He recorded the final three outs of the game, allowing no runs, no hits and no walks along with a strikeout.

Abbadessa started on the mound for Tulane and allowed six earned runs while recording just two outs in the opening frame. Left-hander Jake Toporek threw a team-high 3.1 innings with five strikeouts.

Tulane designated hitter Jason Wachs was 3 for 4 at the plate with two doubles and an RBI. The Green Wave had just five hits as a team.

“We were in between plans and pitches and looked lost on offense tonight,” Tulane coach Jay Uhlman said. “When you stem the tide and can’t answer back, that’s going to be the difference.”

UNO recorded 11 hits as a team. The Privateers are now 3-5 on the season and will be back at Maestri Field on Wednesday to face Southern followed by their first Southland Conference series beginning on Friday against Stephen F. Austin.

Tulane is 5-3 after Tuesday’s loss. The Green Wave will travel to face South Alabama on Wednesday before returning home on Friday for a weekend series against Eastern Kentucky.