NATCHITOCHES,
La.-Oscar
Garcia hit two home runs and drove in five runs to lead Northwestern
State to an 8-6 victory over ULM Tuesday night. The victory by the
Demons
snapped a four-game win streak by the Warhawks at Brown-Stroud Field.
The
Demons
(12-3), who have now won 12 of their last 13 games, scored three runs in
each of the
first two innings and added two more in the third to jump out to an 8-1
lead. The
Warhawks outhit Northwestern State 13-12 for the game; however seven of
the
Demons' hits went for extra bases including three home runs.
Nick
Wade
rallied the Warhawks with a two-out, bases-loaded triple in the top of
the
eighth inning to allow Shane Ardoin, Boomer Blanchard and Caleb Clowers
to
score. ULM's next batter Kelvin York pulled the Warhawks within the
final 8-6 margin with a
single through the left-side of the infield to score Wade.
The
Warhawks
put the tying run on base in the ninth after Josh Gill and Nick Rome
reached
on one-out singles. Chad Sheppard retired the next two ULM batters to
pick up
his fourth save of the season.
Wade
led the
Warhawks at the plate going 3-for-5 with a career-high five RBIs and his
fifth
home run of the season. Ardoin also had a pair of hits for the Warhawks
as he
made his fourth straight start in center field. ULM left 13 runners on
base on
the night and stranded two runners in five straight innings (second to
sixth).
Tyler
Baisley
hit Northwestern State's first home run on the night - a two-run shot -
in the
first. Garcia then homered in back-to-back innings - a three-run shot in
the
second and a two-run blast in the third. Garcia
finished 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored on the night, while four
other
Demons had two hits.
ULM
(7-8) got
on the board in the third when Blanchard scored on a single to left by
Wade. Blanchard
reached two batters earlier on a single between third and shortstop.
Wade
pulled the Warhawks within six, 8-2, with his home run that snuck inside
the
left-field foul pole.
Josh
Miller
(1-3) struggled in the start for the Warhawks allowing six runs on seven
hits
over 1.2 innings of work. After scoring
in each of the first three innings, Northwestern State was held
scoreless over
the final five innings by the ULM bullpen. Matt Cawthon led the Warhawk
relief effort
pitching 3.2 scoreless innings - he scattered three hits and struck out
one.
Northwestern
State
starter Brett Fredieu went 4.2 innings allowing a pair of runs on five
hits - he walked four and struck out seven before handing the ball off
to the
bullpen. Andrew Plotkin (1-1) picked up the win for the Demons after he
allowed
four runs on five hits in three innings of work.
The
Warhawks
return home on Wednesday to host Southern Miss. In celebration of St.
Patrick's
Day, ULM will wear limited edition green hats for the game, select
concessions
will be $1 and the first 500 fans will receive a special ULM St.
Patrick's Day
giveaway. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
