NEW ORLEANS (Interstat) — The New Orleans Privateers erupted for six runs in a chaotic bottom of the first inning, erasing an early Tulane lead and setting the tone for an 11-3 victory over the visiting Green Wave on Tuesday night at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

The game’s decisive moment came immediately after Tulane had staked itself to a three-run advantage in the top of the first. Jason Wachs delivered an RBI double for the Green Wave, but that lead proved short-lived. New Orleans’ Owen Smith answered in the home half, launching a two-run homer to deep left field off Tulane starter Abbadessa to cut the deficit to one run. After a walk and a wild pitch, Abbadessa loaded the bases with two more free passes. With two outs, shortstop Jake D’Altrui crushed a grand slam to left field, turning a 3-2 deficit into a 6-3 lead and chasing Abbadessa from the game.

The first-inning outburst, which saw 12 Privateers come to the plate, provided all the necessary cushion for New Orleans starter Bryson Goff. Goff earned the win, working 5 1/3 innings and allowing three runs on four hits while striking out four. The Privateers’ bullpen combined for 3 2/3 innings of scoreless, one-hit relief, with Brycen Smith, Gus Rogers, Lane Alack and Karson Evans closing the door.

Tulane managed only one run after the first inning, an RBI double from Connor Elliott in the second that scored Teo Haas, who had also doubled. The Green Wave offense, which produced just five hits, was stymied after the second frame, going 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranding several key opportunities.

New Orleans added single runs in the third and eighth innings before putting the game out of reach with a three-run eighth. Smith, who finished 3-for-5, added an RBI single in that inning, and Colton Biddick followed with a two-run double to cap the scoring. Smith, the top star for the Privateers, also scored three times.

D’Altrui’s four RBIs on the grand slam were the game-high. For Tulane, Wachs was a bright spot, going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

The loss overshadowed a brilliant relief outing from Tulane’s Jake Toporek, who entered in the third inning and provided stability. Toporek pitched 3 1/3 hitless innings, striking out five and walking none, keeping the Green Wave within striking distance until the late innings.

The victory improved New Orleans’ season record to 3-5, while Tulane fell to 5-3. The result was a stark reversal of the pregame projection from Interstat, whose game simulator had predicted an 8-3 Tulane victory and gave the Green Wave a 56.90 percent probability to win.

Tulane travels to face South Alabama on Wednesday. New Orleans will host Southern University on Wednesday.