THIBODAUX, La.?Kyle
Suire blasted a solo home run over the right-center field wall in the top of
the 10th inning breaking a scoreless tie lifting ULM
to a 1-0 victory over Nicholls
State in the season
opener for both schools.
The blast came one inning too late
for ULM (1-0)
starter Jared Jennings who dazzled on the mound for the first eight innings in
Didier Field. The senior, who had started
just six games in his career, struck out a career-high 10 batters and walked
none while scattering just four hits.
Suire's home run was an unlikely ending
to the game as only five balls sailed out of Didier Field all of last season.
The senior second baseman struck out
his first three trips to the plate, but finished the game with back-to-back
base knocks.
It took just one game for the Warhawks to accomplish something they didn't accomplish all of last season, throw a shutout.
Junior college transfer Derek Ward
tossed the final two innings for ULM
picking up the victory. The Warhawks
designated closer this season struck out three and didn't allow a hit.
The Warhawks threatened in the top half of the seventh
inning putting runners on first and third with only one out. Sophomore Matt Laird doubled down the line in
right and moved to third on a passed ball. Junior college transfer Matt Collins drew a walk
off reliever Jacob Sullivan putting runners on the corners.
Following a pitching change by Nicholls State
(0-1), junior Ryan McMillan hit a sharp line drive down the third base line,
but Brett Hoeflich snared the ball and saved a pair of runs. Nick Wade grounded out to Drew Erwin, who relieved
Sullivan, to end the inning.
ULM had another chance to draw first
blood in the next frame with runners on first and second and just one
away. Jon Prevost drew his second walk
of the game and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ben Soignier and Suire
followed with a single to third.
Dexter Fontenot screamed a ball down the third base but just
like the previous inning Hoeflich was in the right place at the right time pulling
in the ball and doubling off Prevost at second to end the threat.
For the third straight inning ULM put runners in scoring position in the ninth inning but
couldn't break the string of zeros on the scoreboard. A.J. Siggers led of the inning getting hit by
a pitch but was retired on a fielder's choice off the bat of Laird.
McMillan singled on a line drive off Hoeflich's glove, which
kept it from going into the bullpen and limited McMillan to just one base and
kept Laird on second. Dale Dickerson
caught Wade looking on strike three to keep the game scoreless; Dickerson took
the loss on the mound for the Colonels.
Nicholls State posted the first true threat of the
game with a runner on third and just one out in the fourth inning. Jennings
battled back to strikeout Hoeflich and make a great play on a slow roller
between first and the mound to end the inning.
Ryan Dupuis started for the Colonels on the mound lasting
just five innings due to a high pitch count (81). The senior right-hander allowed just four
hits while striking out five and not allowing a walk.
The Warhawks and Colonels continue the three-game set
tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 p.m. ULM will send junior college transfer Ryan Kirk (3-1,
3.20) to the hill while Nicholls
State counters with
Justin Breaux (1-6, 6.35).
ULM 1, Nicholls State 0 (Feb 22, 2008 at Thibodaux, La.)
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ULM................. 000 000 000 1 - 1 8 1 (1-0)
Nicholls State...... 000 000 000 0 - 0 4 1 (0-1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: ULM - Jennings, Jared; Ward, Derek(9). Nicholls State - Lance Dupuis;
Jacob Sullivan(6); Drew Erwin(7); Dale Dickerson(8).
Win-Ward, Derek(1-0) Loss-Dale Dickerson(0-1) T-2:50 A-1029
HR ULM - Suire, Kyle (1).
