MONROE, La. -- Northwestern
State used a two-out single in the ninth to send the game into extra-innings
and then scored twice in the top of the 10th to steal a 5-3 victory
from ULM Wednesday night at Warhawk Field.
The Warhawks (13-7, 2-1 Sun
Belt), who lost for just the third time in the past 14 games, scored three
unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning, but were unable to scratch
across anything else against Northwestern State starter Jacob Roark and a trio
of Demon relievers.
The Demons tied the game after
a two-base error with one out in the ninth put Justin Martinez at second base.
Following a fly out to center, pinch hitter Stephen Gandy snuck one between
second and first for the game-tying RBI.
The first walk of the game
issued by the Warhawks put the lead-off batter on in the NSU half of the 10th.
Following a sac bunt, Colin Bear lined a double down the line in left field for
the go-ahead run. Two batters later, Matt Farmer added an insurance run with a
single to center.
Les Aulds had a game and
career-high four hits to pace the ULM offense, while Jason Hicks added a pair
of hits and drove in a run. Nick Hinojos led NSU with three hits, while Bear
and Chris Hebert had two hits each.
ULM took advantage of a rocky
start by the Northwestern State defense scoring three runs on three Demon
errors in the first. Aulds led off the frame with a single down the line in
left and proceeded to steal second base. He moved to third on a groundout and
scored on an error by the NSU first baseman trying to throw him out at the
plate.
Hicks provided the only RBI of
the game for the Warhawks with a single back up the middle to plate Caleb
Clowers later in the frame. The third error of the inning allowed Joey Rapp to
score from second after he reached earlier in the inning on an error.
An RBI single by Hinojos put
the Demons (6-14) on the board in the second inning and a unearned run on a ULM
throwing error in the seventh pulled them within a run, 3-2.
Mason Melotakis (1-2) tossed
three scoreless innings out of the Northwestern State bullpen to pick up the
win, while Brett Fredieu tossed a perfect 10th for his second save
of the year.
Fraser Adams (0-2) was charged
with the loss for the Warhawks allowing two runs on two hits in the 10th
inning. Luke Briley and Shelby Aulds combined to hold Northwestern State to
just one earned run over 8.1 innings to start the game.
The Warhawks return to Sun
Belt Conference action this weekend with a three-game series at South Alabama
(11-9, 1-2). First pitch on Friday and Saturday is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the
series will conclude on Sunday at 1 p.m.
