MONROE, La.?ULM jumped on Mississippi Valley State early
and often en route to a 15-4 victory Sunday afternoon in the final game of the
Warhawk Classic at Warhawk Field. The Warhawks won the inaugural Warhawk
Classic with a 2-1 record in the three-day round robin tournament.
One day after scoring 24 runs against Stephen F. Austin,
the Warhawks put up five runs in the first inning and held an 11-4 advantage
after five innings.
Ben Soignier, who was named MVP of the Warhawk Classic,
continued to have an impressive opening weekend finishing the game 4-for-5 with
3 RBIs. He finished the weekend 8-for-15
(.533) from the plate with a pair of home runs, including a grand slam, and a
remarkable 10 RBIs. The senior All-American moved into fourth place on the ULM
career hits list with 219 and third on the career runs scored list with 172.
The Warhawks (2-1) scored runs in six different innings
and multiple runs in four separate frames. After the five-run outburst in the
opening inning, ULM plated three in the third, two in the fourth and three in
the sixth.
Matt Collins had a monster day at the plate going 3-for-6,
including a three-run home run and a double. Matt Laird (2-for-4), Nick Wade
(2-for-2) and Kelvin York (2-for-5) all recorded multiple hits as the Warhawks
belted out 16 as a team.
Collins, Wade and Laird were named to the All-Classic
Team as was ULM's Friday night starter Keith Christensen.
Josh Turner (1-0) picked up the victory on the mound for
the Warhawks tossing 1 1/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen. The ULM bullpen combined the throw 5 1/3
scoreless innings allowing just four hits and one walk.
The Warhawk batters finished the weekend hitting .353 as
a team with eight doubles and four home runs.
Brandon Doston (0-1) took the loss for the Delta Devils
(2-1) allowing nine runs on nine hits through four innings of work. Chris
Herron and Willie Mays both went 2-for-4 from the plate and were named to the
All-Classic Team.
The Warhawks return to action on Wednesday night at No.
34 Tulane. First pitch from Greer Field at Turchin Stadium in New Orleans, La.,
is schedule for 6 p.m.
