MONROE, La.-James
Jones threw ULM's
first complete-game shutout since 2004 and faced just one batter over
the minimum
as the Warhawks cruised past Mississippi Valley State 11-0 Saturday
afternoon at
Warhawk Field.
Jones (1-1) threw
exactly 100
pitches in the game with 70 crossing for strikes. The junior from
Barlow, Ky.,
allowed just two Mississippi Valley State hits and walked just one
batter while
striking out a career-best six. His complete-game shutout was the first
for a Warhawk since Justin Lensch shutdown Lamar on May 22, 2004.
The Delta Devils
went down in
order in each of the first eight innings thanks to a Jones pickoff of
Curtis
Ford at second base in the first inning and a perfect throw from catcher
Jarrett Hammond to catch Nick Fangonilo trying to steal second in the
sixth
inning.
Matt Laird
continued his hot
hitting in the series belting out three hits in four official at-bats.
For the
weekend the senior is 6-for-9 with three RBIs and has raised his batting
average over .140 points to .333. Boomer Blanchard also finished with
multiple
hits for the Warhawks going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
The Warhawks (4-4)
would get
all the runs they would need in the bottom of the first inning putting a
three-spot on the board against Delta Devil starter Steven Barnes.
Blanchard
scored on Laird's first hit of the game after he led off the frame with a
double down the line in left. Caleb Clowers and Laird later both scored
on a
fielding error by Ford at second base.
Laird scored on a
sacrifice
fly off the bat of Josh Chappell in the third inning to up the Warhawk
lead to
4-0 before a four-run fourth inning put the game out of reach. Perry
Smith had
the lone run producing base hit in the fourth as the other three runs
scored on
a wild pitch, a double play and hit batter with the bases loaded.
Blanchard increased
the ULM
lead to 9-0 with an RBI single to right in the seventh before Clowers
drove
home Chappell on a fielder's choice and Hammond scored on a passed ball.
Barnes (0-2), one
of six
pitchers to see action for MVSU (2-9) in the game, took the loss
allowing eight
runs - six earned - on five hits. He struggled with his control issuing
seven
of the 10 walks allowed by the Delta Devil pitching staff.
The Warhawks will
go for the
sweep tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. Junior right-hander Jordy Poche will
get the
start for ULM and MVSU will announce its starter tomorrow.
The
game will be broadcast live in northeast Louisiana on 540 AM and
worldwide on the internet at ulmwarhawks.com. Fans can also watch the
game live
online in Warhawks All*Access and can follow the action for free with
live
stats - both can be accessed by logging onto ulmwarhawks.com.
