MONROE, La.?UALR
held off a furious ULM
rally in the second game of a Sun Belt doubleheader defeating the Warhawks 9-8
Saturday night at Warhawk Field.
ULM (19-9, 11-3 Sun Belt) scored six runs over the final
three innings pulling within one, but left the bases loaded in the bottom of
the eighth inning and grounded into a double play with runners on first and
second in the ninth inning.
The Trojans (6-20, 3-9 Sun Belt) broke a 2-2 tie with three
runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to pull away for the victory after ULM (19-9, 11-3) won the
opener 7-1.
Ben Soignier and Jon Prevost each hit two-run home runs for
the Warhawks. Soignier's was his eighth
of the season and fifth in the past six games while Prevost's blast was his
second of the year.
A throwing error allowed the first run of the UALR half of
the third inning to score and a ground out led to the second run of the frame. Nick DeSanctis extended the lead to 5-2 with
a single to left.
The lead swelled to 8-2 in the fourth with Trojan runs
scoring on a wild pitch, fielder's choice and a single by DeSanctis.
After Matt Laird singled to left center in the seventh,
Prevost closed the gap to 8-4 with his shot to left field.
The first three runners of the ULM half of the eight reached base and Nick
Maragas singled to center scoring Dexter Fontenot. Laird reached on a fielder's choice allowing
A.J. Siggers to score from third closing the gap to 8-6. Prevost continued the rally with single to
left center scoring Ryan McMillan.
Fontenot led off the ninth drawing a walk and moved to third
on a single through the right side on the infield by Siggers. Fontenot scored on a passed ball pulling the
Warhawks within one, 9-8. McMillan lined
out to center field and pinch hitter Kelvin York walked setting up the first
and second with one out. Maragas hit a
sharp ground ball to second base and was doubled up to end the game.
The Trojans tacked on an insurance run in the top of the ninth which turned out to be the game winner. Zach Rowless scored pinch runner Jared Powell on a fielder's choice ground out.
Drew Graham (1-2) struggled allowing five runs ? four earned
? on five hits in 3.1 innings of work.
The junior right-hander walked four and struck out two taking the loss
for ULM. Devin Pourciau threw well in relief going 4.0
innings without allowing a run scattering four hits.
Levi Laughlin (4-1) turned in solid performance for UALR as
he improved to 3-1 in Sun Belt tilts.
The senior right-hander allowed six runs ? four earned ? on six
hits. He walked five and struck out
seven throwing 136 pitches in the outing.
The teams play the rubber game of the series tomorrow
afternoon at 1:00 p.m.
