MONROE, La. - The ULM softball team scored in
every inning on Tuesday evening to run-rule Grambling State, 8-0, in
non-conference action. Roxy Cassel smashed a home run, while Charlotte Pastor
and Elise West each hit their first career triple.
The Warhawk offense combined with a stellar performance
from their pitching staff, gave them their fifth run-rule victory of the
season. It was also the first time this season that ULM didn't strikeout at the
plate. Kandace Causey (4-4) and Heather Fritz combined to strikeout 11
Grambling State batters, while walking just one.
Janel Salanoa paced ULM (13-13) with a
2-for-2 performance at the plate and a game-high three RBIs. Elise West also
went 2-for-2, while five other Warhawks tallied a base hit and Roxy Cassel
smashed her team-leading sixth home run.
Grambling State (4-15) was led by Latrice
Wood and Mikiesha Henson who each recorded a base hit.
Cassel smoked a two-out pitch deep over the
left-field fence to push ULM in front 1-0 in the opening frame. Salanoa
followed with a walk and advanced to third on a stolen base and fielding error.
Melissa Rivera then hit a RBI single through the left side of the infield to
give the Warhawks a 2-0 advantage after an inning of play.
After reaching on a single to right-center
field, West crossed the plate on Brianna Love's single to left field. Later in
the inning Salanoa scored Jessica Olguin and Love on a two-out single to left
field. The base knock gave the Warhawks a 5-0 lead after two innings of play.
West recorded a triple in the third frame and
scored on a fielding error to extend ULM's lead to 6-0 in the third frame.
Pastor tallied a triple in the fourth inning
and would later score on Salanoa's single to left field. Michelle Farrell-Fink
gave the Warhawks their eighth run of the game after lining a single to center
field.
Patrice Bailey (2-8) was tagged with the loss
after giving up eight runs, three earned, on nine hits. She also walked two ULM
batters.
ULM returns to Sun Belt action on Friday
against Middle Tennessee in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. The Warhawks and
Blue Raiders will again square off in the rubber game of the series on Saturday
at 12 p.m.
