Welch, Tulane even weekend series with Northwestern

NEW ORLEANS – Tulane starting pitcher Chandler Welch was spectacular in his debut outing of 2024 and helped lift the host Green Wave to a 6-2 win Saturday afternoon over Northwestern at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium.

Both teams are now 1-1 on the season and will play the deciding game of the series Sunday at 1.

Welch (1-0) was dominant, giving up just one hit over five innings with 10 strikeouts. He then gave way to Luc Fladda and, ultimately, to Trey Cehajic, who got the save. Cehajic hurled the game’s final three and one-third innings, surrendering just an unearned run with a hit and a walk to go with two strikeouts.

Northwestern starter Matt McClure (0-1) took the loss. The Green Wave got to him for three runs on four hits with three strikeouts and five walks.

For the Wave, first baseman Brady Marget went 3-for-5, with an RBI and a pair of runs scored, while second baseman Connor Rasmussen knocked in two runs.

For the Wildcats, third baseman Vince Bianchina had two hits, including a double.

The Green Wave jumped on the visitors early with three runs in the bottom of the first. Center fielder Teo Banks opened the scoring by racing home on a wild pitch. Two batters later, Rasmussen’s double brought home Marget and designated hitter Nathan Rose.

The game stayed scoreless until the sixth inning when the home team answered NU’s first run with three more of its own on back-to-back-to-back RBI by Banks, Marget and Rose.

Northwestern scored once in the top of the ninth for the game’s final margin.

In all, the Wildcats walked seven batters to the Green Wave’s one.