Replay: Chandler Welch’s one-hitter forces deciding game of series as Holy Cross edges Jesuit, 1-0

METAIRIE – When you have two good teams and two good pitchers going at it in a pitcher’s park, runs will be at a premium.

That was the case in game one of the best-of-three series between No. 8 Jesuit and No. 9 Holy Cross on Friday night as the Blue Jays took a 2-1 victory.

Needing a win to stay alive, the Tigers got a clutch pitching performance from sophomore Chandler Welch to force a third and deciding game.

Welch pitched a one-hitter as Holy Cross downed Jesuit 1-0 Saturday afternoon at John Ryan Stadium in a game seen live at CrescentCitySports.com

Welch yielded a double to Parker Serio in the top of the first inning and simply shut Jesuit down the rest of the way, allowing just one baserunner. Welch walked no one and struck out five in a brilliant effort.

“It felt great,” Welch said. “With the defense that I have, whenever I do pitch to spots, you saw in the first inning. I gave up two hard hit balls. Having the defense I do, it’s the best feeling in the world.”

Holy Cross got the only run of the game in the top of the second inning. Cade Simpson doubled down the right field line and Davis Stephens singled to center, plating Simpson to make it 1-0.

Brenden Berggren of Jesuit kept the Tigers at bay the rest of the way, pitching an excellent game in a losing cause. Berggren allowed one run on eight hits. He walked two, hit a batter and struck out eight.

The Blue Jays got a runner to second base in the top of the fifth inning when Tripp Haddad was hit by a pitch and advanced on a wild pitch but Welch got out of it.

The Tigers had at least a hit in every inning but Jesuit turned a pair of double plays and Holy Cross, despite stealing four bases, lost another runner attempting to steal.

“He’s been going it for us all year,” Holy Cross coach Trey Guillot said. “He’s been giving us a chance to win every time he takes the mound. He’s a competitor. We felt good with him on the mound today. If the game was on the line, if the season was on the line, we wanted the ball in his hands. You really can’t say enough about what he did out there.”

Jesuit coach Kenny Goodlett gave Welch and Holy Cross credit.

“He kept us off balance and threw strikes throughout,” Goodlett said. “Brenden Berggren did a fine job for us as well. We just couldn’t put anything together. We have to regroup and come back in game three.”

Game three is set for 5:30 p.m. and you can watch it live at CrescentCitysports.com.

Final
JES 000 000 0 0 1 0, 1 LOB
HC 010 000 x 1 8 0, 6 LOB
WP—Chandler Welch (5-1)
LP—Brenden Berggren (6-3)
Time of Game: 120
SB—Bryan Broussard 2, Davis Stephens, Cade Simpson
2B—Parker Serio, Gavin Schulz, Cade Simpson