WACO, Texas – The ULM women's softball team was held to just
four hits and one run all day as it dropped both games during the second day of
the QTI Powers Invitational. The Warhawks fell 8-0 in a five-inning mercy-rule
loss to No. 23 Houston before losing 2-1 to tournament host Baylor. ULM is now
7-7 on the season.
Janel Salanoa went 2-for-3 against Baylor to lead the
Warhawks at the plate for the day as ULM was unable to get a hit in its game
against Houston. Miyuki Navarrete and Jessica Olguin went 1-for-3 while Brianna
Love scored the only run of the day and was walked twice.
Stephanie Routzon made the start against Houston and gave up
five hits for three earned runs in three innings pitched before being relieved
by Jessica Chastka who gave up seven hits and five runs. Tiffany Mills pitched
all seven innings against Baylor and threw six strikeouts and allowed seven
hits for two unearned runs.
Game One Recap:
The Warhawks were unable to get anything going offensively as Amanda Crabtree
pitched her second no-hitter of the season to give No. 23 Houston an 8-0 five-inning
run-rule win. Love, Salanoa and Elise West each collected a walk while Salanoa
and Love had a team-high four put outs.
Routzon (3-2) earned the loss in the circle after pitching
three innings and gave up three earned runs in five hits with just one
strikeout. Chastka entered the game in the fourth inning to relieve Routzon and
allowed seven hits for five runs, two of which were unearned.
Crabtree pitched all five innings of the mercy-rule win and
collected 10 strikeouts in 18 batters faced while giving up just three walks.
Brooke Lathan had a team-high two RBI and two hits with one home run.
Houston (11-3) kicked off the game with two runs in the first inning
as Holly Anderson led off with a single to the left side before Lathan homered
to the right center field wall to grab an early 2-0 lead.
The Cougars added to their lead as they tacked on two more runs
in the third and fourth innings. In the third inning Melissa Gregson walked and
advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt as a double down the left field line by
Haley Outon plated her.
Jennifer Klinkert singled on a bunt and Ashleigh Jones
reached on a walk to lead off the fourth inning before Katy Beth Sherman singled
up the middle to load the bases. A fielder's choice found Klinkert out at home as
each runner advanced a base before a Gregson sacrifice fly scored the only run
of the inning. Routzon escaped the inning as Lott grounded out to Salanoa at
second base, the Warhawks trailing 4-0.
The Cougars broke open the game with four runs in the fifth
inning to claim the mercy-rule win. Lathan would reach on a single to right
field before eventually scoring on a Klinkert sacrifice fly. A fielding error
by Navarrete would allow three more unearned runs to score as Sherman and
Anderson each belted RBI singles to push runners across the plate followed by
an RBI double by Diedre Outon to immediately end the game with the 8-0 win.
Game Two Recap:
ULM struggled again in its second game of the day as it only scored once in a
2-1 loss to tournament host Baylor. Salanoa led the Warhawks with a 2-for-3
performance at plate while Olguin and Navarrete each also had one hit. Love
would score the lone run for the Warhawks.
Mills (3-3) pitched her second complete game of the season and
earned the loss in the circle after allowing seven hits for two runs, both of
which were unearned, and collected six strikeouts.
Kayce Walker and Holly Holl each went 2-for-3 for the Bears
while Kathy Shelton and Walker each scored a pair of runs. Holl also had three
doubles on the night while Jordan Vannatta had two stolen bases. Courtney Repka
(5-0) earned the win in the circle after pitching a complete game and allowed
just four hits for one earned run while collecting eight strikeouts.
The offensive output during the game was limited to two
innings as the Warhawks lead off the game with their only run. Love earned one
of two walks by Repka to get on base before advancing to second and then third
on an illegal pitch and a wild pitch. Roxy Cassel grounded out to score Love
and take a 1-0 lead.
Baylor (14-0) put its two runs on the scoreboard in the third
inning as Shelton and Walker each singled on a bunt to reach and advanced a
base on a throwing error by Mills.
Another throwing error put Dani Leal on base before she advanced to
third, plating both Shelton and Walker to grab a 2-1 advantage. Three-straight
outs ended the inning and eventually gave Baylor the 2-1 win after both teams
remained scoreless for the final four innings.
ULM will wrap up the QTI Powers Invitational with two final
games tomorrow as it plays Sam Houston State for the third time in a week at 9
a.m. before facing No. 23 Houston for a second time at 1 p.m.
QTI
Powers Invitational Schedule/Results
Friday, February 25
Central Arkansas 4, ULM 1
Houston 9, Sam Houston State 1 (6)
Central Arkansas 1, Houston 0
Baylor 6, Sam Houston State 0
Saturday, February 26
Sam Houston State 5, Central Arkansas 4
Houston 8, ULM 0 (5)
Baylor 3, Central Arkansas 0
Baylor 2, ULM 1
Sunday, February 27
9 a.m. – ULM vs. Sam Houston State
11 a.m. – Sam Houston State vs. Central Arkansas
1 p.m. – Houston vs. ULM
3 p.m. – Baylor vs. Houston
