MONROE, La. – After failing to get the offense working in
its Sun Belt Conference opener the ULM softball team dropped both games in its doubleheader
against South Alabama Saturday at the ULM Softball Complex. The Warhawks fell
3-1 in the first game before dropping a 5-2 result to the Jaguars in the
nightcap.
Jessica Olguin and Regina Ayala each went 2-for-6 for the
day to lead ULM as Olguin collected a team-high-tying two walks and one run. Melissa
Rivera added one run and one RBI while Brianna Love and Olguin each also had a
stolen base.
Tiffany Mills and Stephanie Routzon both picked up losses in
the circle as Mills gave up three runs and six walks for three strikeouts in
game one and Routzon allowed three runs and two walks in the second game. Heather
Fritz pitched a combined 3.3 innings of relief on the day for three strikeouts,
two runs and no walks.
Game One Recap:
South Alabama (21-3, 2-0 SBC) scraped together three runs in three different
innings to overcome ULM (11-12, 0-2 SBC) 3-1 in the first game, limiting the
Warhawks to just one run in the first inning. Elise West went a team-best
2-for-3 while Olguin went 1-for-2 with two walks for the lone run, Rivera receiving
credit for the RBI.
Mills (5-7) threw 5.2 innings against the Jaguars and
allowed three runs, all earned in four hits while walking six and striking out three.
Fritz threw the final 1.1 innings for one strikeout and zero hits.
Christine Crocker had a 2-for-3 performance to lead South
Alabama in the first game with a team-high-tying one run, one RBI and one home
run. Jenny Stevens went 1-for-3 with a home run to also have one run and one
RBI. Hannah Campbell (7-2) threw a complete game for six strikeouts and four
hits with just one run.
Stevens led off the game with a home run to center field,
the solo-shot giving South Alabama an early 1-0 lead over ULM. The Warhawks
answered immediately in the bottom of the inning as Olguin made it to second on
a wild pitch before Cassel reached on a fielding error to advance her another
base. Rivera grounded out to second to plate Olguin, knotting the score 1-1.
A scoreless game ensued until the fifth inning as Meghan
Collins belted a double to left field before three walks followed to score
Collins. The Jaguars padded their lead with another solo-shot home run in the
sixth inning as Crocker led off the inning with a bomb to left field to give
South Alabama the 3-1 win.
Game Two Recap:
ULM struggled again offensively in its second game of the day as Cassel led
with a 1-for-2 performance that included two walks and one run. Rivera also had
one run while Katie Girardi and Ayala collected one RBI each.
Routzon (4-3) threw 4.2 innings in the circle and gave up
three runs, two earned, in eight hits for two strikeouts. Frtiz pitched 2.1
innings of relief and gave up two runs in two hits while collecting two
strikeouts. Love added one stolen base.
Stevens led the Jaguars again in game two after a 1-for-3
perforamance that included two runs and one RBI. Haley Hopkins went 2-for-4 for
a team-high two RBI. Morgan Druhan (7-1) earned the win after throwing a
complete game for four strikeouts while allowing six hits for two runs, one
earned and six walks.
Four-straight Warhawks reached to lead off the first inning as
Rivera loaded the bases on a fielder's choice that found Olguin out at home. Girardi
walked to push Cassel across home plate to score the first run of the game and
take a 1-0 lead.
The second scoring drought of the day persisted until the
fifth inning when Collins singled before advancing to second and then third on
a passed ball. Stevens ripped a single through the right side to score Collins
before eventually scoring herself off a fielding error. A sacrifice fly would
score the final run of the inning to put the Jaguars ahead 3-1.
ULM made a charge in the sixth inning after one out when
Rivera reached on a fielding error before advancing to second on a passed ball.
Ayala nailed an RBI single to right field to score Rivera and give the Warhawks
some life before Olguin flied out, ULM still trailing 3-2.
South Alabama would put the game away with two more runs in
the seventh inning as three-straight pitching miscues allowed Britany Fowler
and Stevens to reach second and third, respectively. Hopkins belted a two RBI
single down the right field line to plate the final two runs before a fly out
ended the game with a 5-2 South Alabama win.
ULM and South Alabama face each other in the final game of
the three-game set tomorrow afternoon with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
Fans can follow the game with free live video and statistics available through
ulmwarhawks.com.
