MONROE, La. ? Sophomore Kandace Causey and freshman Heather Fritz each tossed complete game shutouts and the ULM offense gave them just enough run support to wrap up a doubleheader sweep against in-state foe Northwestern State at the ULM Softball Complex on Wednesday evening. ULM won the first game, 3-0, before winning the second game, 5-0.
The ULM duo combined to allow only eight singles and a total of 11 base runners to keep the Lady Demon hitters off balance. Causey and Fritz each posted double-digit strikeouts, combining for 22 in the series while allowing no free passes.
“I thought that our pitching was stellar today,” ULM softball head coach Rosemary Holloway-Hill said. “Both Kandace and Heather kept them off balance tonight and were pretty untouchable. Fritz really took command today and had probably her best start of the season.”
ULM (17-27) struck fast in the opening game by scoring a run in the first frame. After senior Courtney Cleveland led off the game with a walk, she advanced to second on a single by freshman Jessica Olguin before coming home on an RBI single by freshman Brianna Love.
Junior Erica Darden picked up an RBI single in the fourth inning and junior Megan Miller added an RBI single in the fifth for the final 3-0 margin.
The slim lead would be all Causey (9-9) needed. The Denham Springs, La.-native posted her fifth game of 10 or more strikeouts after fanning 12 Lady Demons. Causey allowed only two hits in the game and saw only four runners reach base. She has picked up the win in her last five starts dating back to the second game of the series against South Alabama.
The Warhawks used the big inning in frame No. 2 of the second game to build their lead before coasting to the finish on the arm of Fritz. ULM opened the inning with back-to-back singles and a walk before Northwestern State was able to tally their first out.
“We took advantage of the opportunities when they presented,” Holloway-Hill said. “With the big inning and the way Heather was pitching, that was really all we needed.”
With one gone and the bases juiced, freshman Elyse Stark coxed an RBI walk in only her first plate appearance of the season. Love picked up an RBI after reaching first on a throwing error by the NSU shortstop to extend the lead and Olguin singled home another to make it a 3-0 advantage.
Senior Jamie Liles put the game out of reach, stroking a two-out RBI double into the gap in right field to make it a 5-0 lead.
ULM would pick up only two more hits through the final four innings, but the damage had already been done.
Fritz (3-3) found herself in a little bit of trouble in the top of the seventh inning after a pair of singles and an error loaded the bases with no outs. The freshman worked out of trouble by retiring the next three batters for her second complete game victory of the season. The Salina, Kan.-native fanned a career-high 10 batters in the game.
The Warhawks will look to continue their hot play in conference when they host Florida Atlantic at the ULM Softball Complex in a three-game series starting with a Saturday doubleheader at 4 p.m. as part of Super Warhawk Weekend. ULM has picked up the win in their last five league games and is coming off back-to-back conference series wins for the first time since the 2002 season.
