Baseball Surges Past McNeese State, 10-2

Tuesday, March 21

Greer Field at Turchin Stadium

6:30 p.m.

Tulane University

7-13

McNeese State

15-6

McNeese State

Tulane

Mar 21, 2017 | Baseball

Box Score

Box Score

NEW ORLEANS – Tulane baseball scored seven runs in the first two innings, and Chase Solesky pitched 6.0 effective frames as the Green Wave defeated McNeese State, 10-2, Tuesday evening at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium.

Hunter Williams, Sal Gozzo and Tyler Heinrichs each drove in runs in the first inning to give Tulane a 3-0 lead. In the second, Grant Witherspoon hit an RBI single, and Jarret DeHart delivered a big blow with a three-run home run to right field making it a quick 7-0. The Green Wave (7-13) added a run in the fourth and two in the fifth, but the pitching performance proved the extra runs unnecessary.

The freshman Solesky earned his first career victory. In his fourth start – and the third in which he pitched at least five innings – he struck out four batters and allowed two runs on five hits and a walk. He was followed by Robert Price, Chris Oakley and Burton Schnake, who combined for three scoreless frames, allowing no hits and just a pair of walks.

"Every time we've given Solesky the ball, he's pitched deep into games and has given us a chance every time. Tonight was nothing different, and it all starts right there," Tulane head coach Travis Jewett said. "We came right out of the gate with good a good at bat to lead it off, and next thing you know it's three in the first and four in the second. You can see the evolution of the offense a little bit. It was a complete game by the boys, and I'm happy for their success."

Williams came within a home run of the cycle, finishing the game 3-for-5 with three runs scored. His double in the first inning drove in Witherspoon for the game's first run. He singled in the second and scored on DeHart's homer, and in the third, the first baseman tripled to deep left center. It was his third career triple and first of the season.

DeHart continued to mash the ball and drive in runs, going 3-for-5 with four RBI. His homer was No. 6 on the season, and he raised his season RBI total to 24 through 20 games. He also plated Williams on a groundout in the fourth inning that extended the lead to 8-0. He now has nine RBI and three homers in the last five games.

Sal Gozzo reached on a fielder's choice in the first inning, scoring Williams after his double and a single by DeHart. Gozzo then proceeded to steal second and third, and scored on Heinrichs' double to right center. In the second inning, Paul Gozzo led off with a single and scored on Witherspoon's base hit.

Heinrichs drew a one-out walk in the fifth, Lex Kaplan hit his second single of the night, and Paul Gozzo walked, loading the bases for Jake Willsey to shoot a two-run single through the hole in the left side, making the score 10-0.

Solesky had allowed just two hits in five innings and faced the minimum through three frames, but McNeese broke through with two runs in the sixth. A base hit was erased by Tulane's second 5-4-3 double play of the game, but a single and walk followed, leading to a two-run double by Ricky Ramirez.

McNeese State starter Grant Ashcraft took the loss. He pitched one inning, and was followed by six relievers.

The Green Wave plays at No. 16 Louisiana-Lafayette at 6 p.m. Wednesday at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field. The game will be broadcast on 88.3 FM WRBH and the TuneIn Radio app, and live stats can be found at www.TulaneGreenWave.com.

Follow Green Wave Baseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter and Facebook.

Tulane 10, McNeese State 2 (Mar 21, 2017 at New Orleans, La.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
McNeese State....... 000 002 000 - 2 5 0 (15-6)
Tulane.............. 340 120 00X - 10 13 0 (7-13)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: McNeese State - Ashcraft, Grant; Anderson, Aidan(2); Mize, Mason(3);
Sonnier, Gavin(5); Fliger, Avery(6); Rider, Zach(7); Kober, Collin(8) and Duhon, Dustin;
Whelton, Brett. Tulane - SOLESKY, Chase; PRICE, Robert(7); OAKLEY, Chris(8); SCHNAKE, Burton(9)
and GOZZO, Paul.
Win-SOLESKY, Chase(1-0) Loss-Ashcraft, Grant(0-1) T-2:36 A-1837
HR TLN - DeHART, Jarret (6).
Weather: 81 Sunny, Wind SW @ 7 mph