MONROE, La.?Both ULM and Louisiana-Lafayette entered the
three-game Sun Belt Conference series at Warhawk Field as two of the hottest
teams in the country, only one left that way as ULM completed the sweep of its
in-state rival winning both games of a doubleheader, 8-7 and 7-4, on Saturday
afternoon.
The Warhawks (21-12, 11-7 Sun Belt) have now won 11 of their
last 13 games overall, eight of their last 10 Sun Belt Conference tilts and
five in a row over Louisiana-Lafayette. The Ragin' Cajuns (17-15-1, 8-9)
entered the weekend winners of seven in a row, including a three-game sweep of
then conference leading Middle Tennessee last weekend.
Ryan McMillan led the Warhawks at the plate going 6-for-7
with a pair of RBIs in Saturday's games ? he had three hits in each game.
Boomer Blanchard, Ben Soignier and Matt Laird all had three hits in the two
games combined.
Soignier, who was ULM's starting shortstop, also closed
out the ninth inning of game two striking out three ULL batters ? the first
three strikeouts of the game for ULM ? for his second save of the season after
not even warming up in the bullpen.
The Warhawks hit the road for five games next week
beginning with a pair at No. 1 Arkansas on Tuesday and Wednesday before
wrapping the trip up with a three-game Sun Belt Conference series at Middle
Tennessee over the weekend.
Game One Recap:
The Warhawks jumped on the
Ragin' Cajuns with six runs over the opening three frames of the game and held off a late
rally to take the opener of the doubleheader 8-7.
McMillan, who was moved down
to the eight spot in the lineup, led the Warhawks going 3-for-3 with two RBIs,
including his second home run of the season. Blanchard was 3-for-5 with three
RBIs, Soignier was 2-for-5, Laird was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and Jordy
Poche was 2-for-5 with an RBI.
ULM jumped on ULL starter Greg
Wilborn (3-1) for six runs on six hits in just 2.2 innings ? Wilborn was
saddled with his first loss of the season. The junior right-hander walked six
batters and struck out one before handing the ball off to Gregory Harmon who
closed out the game.
Drew Graham (2-0) threw 3.1
innings in relief to pick up the win for the Warhawks allowing a pair of runs
on two hits. Corey Brown allowed a run on one hit in the ninth for his first
save of the season.
Laird put the Warhawks on the
board scoring on a fielding error by ULL center fielder Kyle Olasin on a single
by Poche. One out later, McMillan singled to right field and Perry Smith walked
to load the bases for Blanchard. The junior second baseman answered the call
with a two-run single to right to put ULM up 3-0.
After the Cajuns tacked on a
pair in the third thanks to RBIs by Matt Goulas and Olasin, the Warhawks
stormed right back with three more runs in the bottom of the frame all coming
with two outs.
Laird and Collins led off the
frame drawing back-to-back walks, but a double play erased Collins and Laird
advanced to third. Nick Wade walked to put runners on the corners then McMillan,
Smith and Blanchard followed with back-to-back-to-back RBI singles pushing the
lead out to 6-2.
The teams traded a pair of
runs in the fifth and sixth innings with ULL scoring twice in the fifth with
RBIs from Goulas, who finished 4-for-4, and Olasin, who was 1-for-5 with three
RBIs. ULM scored a single run in both innings as McMillan homered in the fifth
and Poche tripled home Soignier in the sixth inning.
Olasin pulled the Cajuns
within 8-5 with an RBI groundout in the seventh and Goulas hit a two-run homer
in the top of the ninth.
Game Two Recap:
ULM got seven solid innings on the mound from Poche and
got clutch hits scoring all seven runs with two hits in a 7-4 victory to
complete the sweep. Poche (2-2) picked
up his second win on the season allowing four runs on seven hits.
The Warhawks led off the first and second innings with
doubles by Blanchard and Wade. Following a pair of strikeouts in both innings,
Collins and Smith delivered RBI singles for a pair of runs.
ULL answered ULM's run in the bottom of the first
manufacturing a run in the top of the second. Scott Hawkins led off the frame
with a double, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a sacrifice fly
by Chad Keefer.
Soignier scored on an error by Hawkins at first base as a
grounder by Laird went between his legs pushing the Warhawks lead out to 3-1.
ULM added another in the fifth as Laird got the inning
started with a two-out single back up the middle. He then stole second, moved
to third on a wild pitch and scored on another wild pitch by Luke Wagley.
The Warhawks struck again with two outs in the bottom of
the sixth inning with three more runs to stake a 7-1 lead. Blanchard was hit by
a pitch and Prevost singled back up the middle to get the frame rolling. Soignier
doubled to right-center to score the first run and Collins followed with a
two-run single up the middle.
With two runs already across in the top of the eighth for
ULL and runners on the corners with one out, Soignier proved why he was named
Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year back-handing a sharp grounder to turn an
inning-ending double play and keep the Cajuns' biggest home run threat,
Hawkins, in the on-deck circle.
The Ragin' Cajuns loaded the bases in the ninth inning,
but Soignier struck out the side to pick up his second save of the season.
Wagley (3-3) took the loss allowing four runs ? three earned
? on six hits over 4.2 innings. He struck out six and walked four before
passing the ball to Justin Robichaux who closed out the game.
