MONROE, La.?Northwestern State scored five
runs in the top of the 10th inning to push past ULM 8-3 in the
season opener for both clubs Friday night at Warhawk Field in the opening game
of the Warhawk Classic.
Chase Lyles started the rally with a leadoff
home run and then with the bases loaded Dan Meyer hit a bases-clearing triple
to center field to put the game out of reach. Four of the five runs in the
inning were unearned after a ULM fielding error prolonged the inning.
The Warhawks (0-1) sent the game into extra
innings with a run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Trailing 3-2 heading into
the inning, Jon Prevost drew a walk to lead off the frame and moved to second
as ball four rolled into the ULM dugout.
Prevost moved to third base on a Boomer Blanchard infield single and Ben Soignier plated the tying
run with a grounder to second. ULM had the winning run on third base with just
one out, but couldn't get the run home sending the game to extra innings.
The Warhawks first two runs of the game came via the long
ball. Soignier got things started when he launched a ball over the left-field wall in the bottom of the
third inning to give the Warhawks a 1-0 lead. After Northwestern State (1-0)
plated a pair of runs in the fourth inning, Blanchard picked up his first
career ULM hit and home run with the same swing in the fifth inning.
Jimmy Heard allowed a pair of runs over five
innings of work and was in line for the win until the Warhawks' rally in the
ninth inning. He struck out six ULM batters before passing the ball to Kyle
Broughton, who tossed three innings of scoreless ball. Trevor Geist (1-0) surrendered
the run in the bottom of the ninth, but thanks to Northwestern State's big 10th
inning picked up the win.
Keith Christensen went five innings allowing
just a pair of runs on four hits. Making his first start since May 23, 2007,
the senior southpaw struck out four batters and walked a pair ? he also picked
off a pair of runners at first base.
After cruising through the first three
innings, Christensen got into a little trouble in the top of the fourth
allowing a leadoff home run to Trent Grondin and then back-to-back-to-back
singles allowing another run to cross. The Demons loaded the bases with nobody
out, but Christensen got DD Lott to ground into a 5-2-3 double play and then
struck out Beau Snodgrass to close out the frame.
Corey Brown worked the Warhawks out of a jam
in the top of the seventh inning after coming in for Drew Graham. Following an
intentional walk, Brown forced Tyler Baisley into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double
play.
Derek Ward (0-1), who entered in the top of the
ninth inning, suffered the loss for the Warhawks allowing five runs ? just one
earned ? in two innings of work. He allowed four hits and struck out three.
Warhawk pitchers struggled with their control
all night long walking a combined 10 batters and hitting four others with a
pitch.
The Warhawk Classic continues tomorrow with a
three-game schedule from Warhawk Field. Stephen F. Austin and Mississippi
Valley State open play at 11 a.m. followed by Northwestern State and
Mississippi Valley State at 3 p.m. ULM and Stephen F. Austin close out the day
at 7 p.m.
