MONROE, La. ? Ben Soignier and Nick Wade hit
home runs to lead ULM past New Orleans 8-6 Saturday afternoon in the opening
game of a Sun Belt Conference series at Warhawk Field.
Soignier's fourth blast of the season gave
the Warhawks (8-6, 1-3 Sun Belt) a 2-0 lead in the first inning and Wade's
first homer of the season ? a three-run shot ? tied the game at 5-5 in the
second inning after New Orleans (5-9, 1-3) had scored five runs in the top of
the frame.
After the teams pushed across the 10 runs in the first two innings, both starting pitchers settled down and held the
offenses to just one run over the next four frames.
Jordy Poche drove home the game-winning run
in the bottom of the seventh inning on a bases-loaded fielder's choice that
scored Soignier, who led off the inning with a double. The Warhawks tacked on
an insurance run in the eighth after a fielding error by the Privateers allowed
Wade to score from second.
Wade, Soignier and Matt Laird all finished
with a pair of hits for the Warhawks. Wade also scored three times while
Soignier crossed the dish twice.
Don Williams (1-0) picked up the victory on
the mound for ULM after throwing a 1/3 of an inning, while Jake Henderson (2-1)
was tabbed with the loss after giving up seven runs ? six earned ? in 6 2/3 inning
of work.
Drew Graham struck out three batters and
allowed just one hit over the final two innings for his first save of the
season. Graham entered the game in the eighth inning with runners on first and
second base and nobody out. Following a sacrifice bunt, Graham struck out the
next two batters to end the threat.
Keith Christensen started on the mound for
the Warhawks and went 6 2/3 innings ? the most by any ULM pitcher this season.
He allowed six runs on the day, but just
one run outside of the five-run second inning.
New Orleans was led by Rodarrick Jones'
2-for-3 day at the plate including a pair of RBIs.
The teams conclude the three-game series
tomorrow afternoon with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Both games will be
broadcast live on 1680 AM in the Monroe area and worldwide on the internet at
ULMAthletics.com.
Tomorrow is Kids' Day at Warhawk Field
as all children 12 and under will be admitted free to the game and will have an
opportunity to run on the field with their favorite player for the National
Anthem prior to the first game.
