MONROE, La.?The ULM bats came alive in the second game of
the season as the Warhawks belted out 19 hits in a 24-7 victory over Stephen F.
Austin on a cold night at Warhawk Field.
The 24 runs are the most by any team in the NCAA so far
this season and are the most for the Warhawks since they torched Middle
Tennessee for 25 runs on April 29 of last season.
The Warhawks (1-1), who tallied just seven hits in the
season opener last night against Northwestern State, had eight hits and a 7-1
lead after the first two innings of the game.
All-American Ben Soignier continued to crush the baseball
with his second home run of the season, this one a grand slam in the Warhawks'
11-run sixth inning to push his RBI total to seven on the young season. He also
moved into a tie for fourth place on the ULM career runs scored list with 168
after scoring three times on the night.
ULM sent 16 batters to the plate in the sixth as it
scored 10 or more runs in an inning for the first time since May 20, 2005,
against Southeastern Louisiana. The inning featured six Warhawk hits, five
walks and two Lumberjack errors.
Jon Prevost was a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate on the
night, while Soignier was 3-for-6. Matt Laird, Matt Collins, Perry Smith,
Boomer Blanchard and Jordy Poche each recorded a pair of hits.
The Warhawks jumped all over Stephen F. Austin starter
Erich Lehmann tagging the senior right-hander for seven runs ? six earned ? on eight
hits. Lehmann entered the game with 0.75 ERA over 12 innings in three prior appearances
against ULM.
Stephen F. Austin used nine pitchers on the night with nobody
going longer than Lehmmann's two innings. Lumberjack pitchers walked 11 Warhawks and hit
four others.
ULM starter Danial McHenry lasted just 3.2 innings before
giving way to the bullpen. The senior right-hander allowed six runs ? two earned
? on seven hits.
Justin Anderson (1-0) picked up the win for the Warhawks
tossing 3.1 innings in relief allowing one run on three hits.
The Warhawk Classic concludes tomorrow afternoon with a
pair of games. ULM and Mississippi Valley State open play at 1 p.m. followed by
Stephen F. Austin and Northwestern State at 4 p.m. Tomorrow is Kid's Day at
Warhawk Field ? all children 12 and under will be admitted free and will have a
chance to run on the field with their favorite Warhawk for the National Anthem.
