BOCA RATON, Fla.?All-American and Preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year Ben Soignier hit a two-out, two-run double in the top of the ninth inning breaking a 3-3 tie as ULM defeated Florida Atlantic 7-5 to clinch the Sun Belt Conference series Sunday afternoon at FAU Field.
Perry Smith led off the inning with a single and one out later Boomer Blanchard got aboard with his third single of the game. Following an out, Soignier ripped a 1-1 fastball off Glen Troyanowski, who had just entered the game, into the gap in left-center for the game-winner.
The Warhawks (15-11, 6-6 Sun Belt) kept the heat on as Ryan McMillan singled to center field to score Soignier and Matt Collins followed with a triple to left-center field scoring McMillan.
Jordy Poche pitched seven strong innings for the Warhawks allowing just three runs on five hits earning a no decision. Drew Graham (1-0) pitched the eighth and ninth innings, including working around an inherited base runner, for the win.
ULM has now won five of its last six games dating back to Collins' walk-off home run last Sunday in ULM's 10-8 victory over Arkansas State.
Blanchard finished 3-for-5 on the afternoon, while Casey Auttonberry, Smith and Collins all recorded a pair of hits.
The Owls (15-9, 4-7) led 3-2 after a solo home run by Travis Ozga in the bottom of the sixth inning ? the ULM comeback marks just the second time in 13 games that Florida Atlantic has lost a game when leading after the sixth inning this season.
The Warhawks struck first as Matt Laird smashed a double to the gap in left-center into a wind that registered guts of up to 20 miles-per-hour all afternoon. McMillan came around to score on the hit, which would have easily been a three-run home run on a normal day.
After Poche retired the first seven Owl batters of the game, Nick Criaris recorded Florida Atlantic's first hit and run of the game with a solo home run to left in the bottom of the third inning.
Following a brief 13-minute rain delay before the top of the fourth inning, the Warhawks regained the lead, 2-1, as Laird scored on an Auttonberry single to left field.
Florida Atlantic answered with a run in the bottom of the frame on a double by Tom Hatcher down the line in left field. However, the Owls left the bases loaded as Poche got Anthony Mesa to fly out to center field to end the inning.
The back-and-forth affair continued as the Warhawks tied the game 3-3 when pinch runner Josh Gill scored on a wild pitch by relief pitcher Chris Schmitt, after the Ozga homer. Gill came in to run for Auttonberry who led off the inning with his second hit of the game.
Criaris hit his second home run of the afternoon in the bottom of the ninth inning with a runner on pulling the Owls within the final 7-5 margin.
Schmitt (3-1) took the loss for Florida Atlantic allowing two runs on three hits over 2.1 innings of work. Owl starter Adam Morrison pitched well allowing three runs on seven hits; he walked four and struck out five.
The Warhawks wrap up their five game road swing with a trip to Northwestern State Tuesday night. Following the game with the Demons, ULM hosts Mississippi State Wednesday night on “Pack the Park” Night at Warhawk Field.
