MONROE, La. – Two big four-run innings gave the ULM softball team an early eight-run advantage before Brianna Love's two RBI walk-off home run sealed an 11-3 five inning mercy-rule victory over Sun Belt Conference foe South Alabama Sunday at the ULM Softball Complex.
Love's two-run home run capped an offensive performance that included eight runs in the first two innings of the game. South Alabama cut the lead to five after scoring three runs in the third and fourth innings, but Love's shot straight over center field added the final two runs needed for the run-rule win.
Roxy Cassel belted a homer over the left field wall in the first inning to plate Jessica Olguin and Love and begin the scoring spree with an early 3-0 lead over the Jaguars. ULM's Janel Salanoa added another run after aggressive base running put her at third and a Melissa Rivera RBI single pushed her across home.
ULM (12-12, 1-2 SBC) doubled its lead with four runs in the second inning when it began with a Salanoa single to load the bases before a muffed throw by the catcher and an RBI single by Regina Ayala scored Olguin and Rivera. A throwing error allowed two more runs to score to put the Warhawks ahead 8-0.
Love went 2-for-2 at plate with two walks to lead ULM with one home run, two runs, two RBI, one triple and one stolen base. Olguin also went 2-for-2 with two runs and one RBI while Salanoa and Rivera each went 2-for-3 with two runs. Cassel had a game-high three RBI and had the only other home run of the day.
Heather Fritz (2-1) picked up her second win of the season after pitching 1.2 innings of relief and allowed just one walk and no hits in eight batters faced. Tiffany Mills threw the first 3.1 innings and allowed three runs, all earned on five hits with two strikeouts.
The Jaguars (21-4, 2-1 SBC) got on the board in the third inning with a single run scored off a wild pitch. They added two more in the fourth inning as two singles and a walk loaded the bases before a fielding error and another walk sent two runs home.
The Warhawks padded their lead with a solo run in the fourth inning when Katie Girardi nailed an RBI double to the left center field wall to plate Rivera who reached on a single.
Meghan Collins led the Jaguars with a 1-for-1 performance that included one run while Julie Moss went 1-for-3 with one run. Jenny Stevens scored the only RBI of the day for South Alabama. Lindsey Croft picked up the loss after pitching just 0.1 innings and allowing four runs off four hits, all earned with one strikeout.
ULM will take the field again next weekend when it travels to face Troy in a three-game Sun Belt series beginning with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
