LAFAYETTE, La. --
Joey Rapp hit a two-out, two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning to
rally ULM past La.-Lafayette 6-3 Saturday afternoon in game two of a three-game
Sun Belt Conference series at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field. The Warhawks, who won
2-1 on Friday, have now clinched the series victory over the defending
conference champs.
The Warhawks (12-5,
2-0 Sun Belt), who have won 10 of their last 11 games, entered the ninth inning
trailing 3-2 after the Cajuns scored a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of
the eighth.
Les Aulds led off the
ninth with a single to left and Jeremy Sy drew a walk against Cajun closer Matt
Hicks. A double play moved Aulds to third and sent Rapp to the plate with the
game on the line. The reigning Sun Belt Hitter of the Week took the first pitch
he saw from Hicks out of the park in right-center field for his fourth homer of
the season.
Hicks then hit Judd
Edwards with a pitch and surrendered an RBI double to Jordy Poche before being
pulled from the game. Ryland Parker came out of the ULL bullpen and Jason Hicks
greeted him with an RBI single up the middle for ULM's fourth run of the ninth.
Randy Zeigler turned
in another solid pitching performance for ULM one day after Drew Granier took a
no-hitter into the ninth inning. Zeigler (2-1) allowed three runs -- one earned
-- over eight innings of work; he scattered six hits and struck out four. James
Jones struck out two in the ninth for his first save of the season.
Over the past nine
games, the ULM pitching staff has combined to post a 1.94 ERA with 66
strikeouts and 24 walks over 79 innings of work while holding opposing batters
to just a .217 batting average.
The Warhawk defense
played a big part in the victory as it turned three double plays on the
afternoon -- two of which ended innings.
ULL (8-10, 0-2) took
its first lead of the weekend in the eighth as a lead-off double by Daniel
Nichols got the Cajuns going. A throwing error on a sac bunt attempt allowed
Nichols to score all the way from first and tie the game at 2-2. Following a
ground out, Greg Fontenot grounded to short against a drawn in infield, however
Jordan Bourque was able to dislodge the ball from ULM catcher Jarrett Hammond's
glove on the play at the plate to give ULL the 3-2 lead.
Eight different
Warhawks tallied a hit on the afternoon as they out-hit the Cajuns 8-7. Mike
Petello and Lance Marvel each had a pair of hits for ULL.
The Warhawks struck
first for the 11th time this season with a pair of runs in the top
of the third. Matt Laird led off the frame with a double down the line in left
and moved up to third on a sacrifice bunt by Hammond. Following a walk by
Aulds, Sy brought home Laird with an infield single and then a pair of wild
pitches by Jordan Nicholson scored Aulds.
ULL pulled within
one, 2-1, in the fifth on an RBI base hit by Alex Fuselier. Tyler Frederick
scored on the single after he was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and
moved to second on a sac bunt. Frederick was the first batter that Zeigler had
hit this season.
Hicks (2-1) was
charged with his first loss of the season after he allowed four runs on three
hits in just two-thirds of an inning. Nicholson departed after allowing two
runs on four hits over six innings.
The Warhawks will go
for the sweep Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. Junior right-hander Brent Gay (1-0,
2.75) will make his first start of the season for ULM, while ULL will counter
with senior southpaw T.J. Geith (0-2, 7.30).
