NEW ORLEANS, La.?Matt
Collins completed a dramatic six-run comeback with a grand slam in the seventh
inning lifting ULM to an 11-9 victory at New Orleans Friday night
in Sun Belt Conference play.
The Privateers (8-5, 1-2 Sun Belt) led 8-4 heading into the
seventh inning, but the Warhawks (10-4, 3-1) loaded the bases with just one out
in the inning. Jordy Poche and A.J. Siggers
hit back-to-back singles after Kyle Suire was hit by a pitch setting up the big
blast.
“I am proud of the way the guys never gave up,” ULM head coach Jeff
Schexnaider said.
Collins sent the first pitch he saw from Tyler Sanders (0-2)
? who was tagged with the loss ? down the line in right field tying the game at
8-8. Matt Laird and Ben Soignier gave
the Warhawks a 10-8 lead with a pair of singles back up the middle.
Collins struck again in the top of the ninth with his second
home run of the game pushing the lead to 11-8.
The junior finished 3-for-4 with a career-best five RBIs.
The Warhawks have now won four straight games and remain
perfect on the road (5-0) this season. ULM also extended its
streak of games with 10 or more hits to eight after pounding out 17.
The bullpen was near perfect for the Warhawks allowing just two
runs over 6 2/3 innings of work. Scott
Stephen (1-0) picked up the win throwing 3 2/3 innings while Derek Ward threw
the final three innings picking up his third save of the season.
After the Warhawks put a run on the board in the top of the
first, UNO scored seven straight over the next three innings. The Privateers hit four home runs in that
stretch and Jeff Lanning hit UNO's fifth blast of the game and his second of
the game in the fourth inning pushing the score to 8-2 in favor of the
Privateers.
ULM began its comeback in the top of
the sixth with a triple by Siggers and a single by Collins. Siggers finished the game 3-for-5 with three RBIs
and finished just a double away from the cycle.
Jared Jennings was roughed up for the first time this season
allowing seven runs on eight hits in 2 1/3 innings for the Warhawks. UNO starter Justin Garcia allowed four runs
over 5 1/3 innings scattering eight hits.
The teams continue the three-game series tomorrow afternoon
at 4:00 p.m. The Warhawks will send Drew
Graham (1-0, 4.32) to the mound while UNO counters with Stephen Whalen (1-1,
7.90).
