Flores domintaed from the beginning, scattering three hits and walking a single batter to record the first complete game of the season by a Cougar other than Brad Lincoln. Tulane's biggest threat came in the sixth, as Seth Henry led off with a walk and moved to second on a Nate Simon single. The Wave had runners on the corner with one out, but consecutive fly balls to right field ended the threat and kept the shutout intact. When Flores ended the game with his second strikeout of C-USA Player of the Year Mark Hamilton, Houston advanced to the championship game for the first time since 2002.

Despite throwing more balls than strikes in his six innings, Stephen Porlier allowed just two unearned runs and gave the Green Wave a chance to force a second game. The Cougar bats awoke against Nathan Newman in the eighth inning, scoring three runs on six hits to break the game open. Brett Logan provided the key blow, as his two-run single doubled the Houston lead to 4-0. Brad Lincoln added his thirteenth homer of the season in the ninth to provide the final margin of 6-0.

Luis Flores improved to 6-3 on the season, while Stephen Porlier falls to 7-4. Tulane is eliminated from the tournament with a 41-20 record, and should be awarded an at-large invitation to the NCAA Tournament when the bracket is announced Monday morning.

Rice and Memphis will play the second game of the day at 12:50, with Craig Crow taking the mound for the Owls and Lance Scoggins throwing for the Tigers.

Matt Farrington (5-4, 4.31) is expected to pitch for Houston in tomorrow afternoon's championship game.