MOBILE, Ala. ? The ULM softball team picked up a big doubleheader sweep against league-foe South Alabama behind the right arm of sophomore starter Kandace Causey on Sunday afternoon in Mobile, Ala. The Warhawks won the opener by a 4-1 score before winning 1-0 in the rubber match.
ULM (12-25, 4-8 Sun Belt) claimed the league series, their first since joining the Sun Belt Conference, thanks to a dominant performance in the circle by Causey. The Jaguar hitters managed only one run off seven total hits through the days 14 innings.
“Kandace and Megan Miller got in the groove today and really took control for us,” ULM softball head coach Rosemary Holloway-Hill said. “We were going to start Rittenhouse in game two if South Alabama was able to figure out Kandace, but they never did. She took over the series for us and got us a pair of really big wins.”
The Warhawks picked up a gem from sophomore Kandace Causey in the circle. The Denham Springs, La.-native fanned nine and allowed only a pair of hits in the 4-1 victory.
Freshman Brianna Love put the Warhawks on the board quickly, taking the second pitch of the ballgame over the left field fence for her team-leading seventh home run of the season. ULM would expand the lead to 2-0 in the third inning when Love came in to score on a single and an error with two outs in centerfield.
Junior Megan Miller picked up an RBI double and Love added an RBI single in the fourth inning to make it a 4-0 lead.
South Alabama would crack the scoreboard in the bottom half of the frame after scoring its first run on only its first hit against Causey. The Warhawk hurler would settle in, allowing only two more base runners for the remainder of the game to preserve the three-run victory.
In the rubber match Causey once again got the nod in the circle and flirted with danger early. Evelyne Pare led off the inning with a bunt single before stealing second and then third. The next three batters popped out to end the threat.
South Alabama loaded the bases in the second inning with two outs only to see Kausey fan the next batter swinging.
The Warhawks broke the scoreless tie in the third inning after an RBI single from freshman Jessica Olguin. Senior Courtney Cleveland led off the frame with a single before advancing to second on a sacrifice from Love and scoring on the base hit.
Causey would make the 1-0 advantage hold up. Combined with a flawless defensive performance behind her, she finished the day with 15 total strikeouts.
The Warhawks will look to build on the momentum from the conference series victory on Tuesday, March 8 when they wrap up a season-long nine-game road trip at I-20 rival Louisiana Tech. First pitch in Ruston is scheduled for 6 p.m.
