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Trio of Home Runs Lift Softball Past Centenary

Trio of Home Runs Lift Softball Past Centenary

Softball Mar 18
MONROE, La. – Roxane Cassel hit her fourth and fifth home runs of the season and Melissa Rivera hit her first career home run as the ULM softball team earned a 4-3 victory over Centenary on Wednesday night (March 17) at the ULM Softball Complex. Tiffany Mills started in the circle, throwing 4.2 innings before Heather Fritz came on in relief for the final 2.1 innings.

“I was pleased with our poise in closing out the game,” said ULM head coach Rosemary Holloway-Hill. “Centenary made it close in the seventh with those two runs but I was happy with the way we regained out focus and pulled out the win. It was great to see Melissa (Rivera) hit her first career home run, we gave her the game ball, and obviously Roxy's (Cassel) two home runs were a key as well.”

“It was nice to get back on the winning track after this past weekend against North Texas (dropping two of three) and hopefully we can take some momentum to Stephen F. Austin on Friday.”

ULM (9-11) recorded two quick outs to begin the first but Allison Shepperd then doubled off the left field fence to start a two-out rally for Centenary (9-11). The Ladies got on the board first when Katie Matthews followed with a double to right center, scoring Shepperd, to give Centenary a 1-0 lead.

The score remained 1-0 until the bottom of the second when Rivera took the first pitch of the inning deep over the wall in left centerfield. Rivera's round tripper was the first of her ULM career.

The Warhawks took the lead on a home run by Cassel in the third. With one out, Sarah Carriger singled to right field. Cassel then gave ULM a 3-1 lead as she drove a one-one pitch over the fence in straightaway centerfield.

Centenary threatened in the fourth as Kalyn Harris and Sara Dornelas led off the inning with back-to-back singles. But after Mills fanned Kelsey Regan, Caitlin Cavarra lined out sharply to Janel Salanoa at shortstop, Salanoa then alertly fired across to first to get Regan on a double play.

With nobody on and two out in the bottom of the fifth, Cassel increased the Warhawks lead to 4-1 with a solo shot to left. Cassel's second home run of the night was her team-best fifth of the season.

It turned out to be an important run as Centenary scored a pair of runs with two outs in the top of the seventh. A walk and hit by pitch opened the inning for the Ladies, ULM then got two outs before Shepperd's third double of the night plated two runs to cut the Warhawks lead to just one, 4-3. But Fritz got the next Centenary batter to strike out swinging to end the threat and give the Warhawks the victory.

Mills struck out four, allowed six hit, two walks and one run in 4.2 innings of work. Fritz came on for the final 2.1 innings, allowing two runs, two hits and a walk while striking out one. 

ULM will return to action on Saturday, March 20 when it travels to Stephen F. Austin for a non-conference doubleheader. Game one of the twinbill against the Ladyjacks is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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