CLEARWATER, Fla. – Tulane’s Michael Lombardi struck out 11 as No. 5 Tulane defeated No. 4 Florida Atlantic, 6-3, in the first game of the 2025 American Baseball Championship presented by Regions, Tuesday morning, May 20 at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Fla.
With the win, the Green Wave (31-24) will play against the winner of UTSA and Rice on Thursday, May 22 at 1 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+. Florida Atlantic will play in an elimination game on Wednesday, May 21 at 1 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+ against the loser of the UTSA/Rice game.
Lombardi (4-0), a first-team all-conference reliever that led The American in saves during the regular season, started for the Green Wave and struck out 11 batters while only allowing one run on two hits in seven innings of action.