GRAMBLING, La. - Tiffany Mills did not give up a hit until
the fifth inning and allowed just two from that point to lead the ULM softball
team to a 7-0 shutout of Grambling State Tuesday evening at Lady Tiger Field.
The Warhawks improve to 23-17 overall, 9-6 SBC and a three-game winning streak
including their second-straight shutout.
Mills (11-11) tied her season-high with seven strikeouts and
gave up no walks in her sixth complete game and second shutout of the season.
The Riverside, Calif., native has notched four shutouts for her career.
Brianna Love had an outstanding performance behind the plate
after belting three doubles in three at bats to move her into fourth place all-time
in program history with 34 career doubles. Love also collected two runs, one
RBI, one walk and two stolen bases. Jessica Olguin had a team-high two RBI
while five other Warhawks had one run.
Love doubled to right center and stole third to lead off the
first inning and was the first to cross home plate after Olguin reached on a
fielder's choice. Janel Salanoa followed with a ground out to score Olguin and
give ULM an early 2-0 lead.
The Warhawks added two runs in the second inning when they put
two runners on base with a single and a fielder's choice before Miyuki Navarrete
grounded out and Love doubled to score Katie Girardi and Samantha Riojas.
Salanoa pushed ULM's lead to 5-0 after reaching home on an error in the fifth
inning.
ULM capped the game in the sixth inning with two final runs
when Love nailed her third double of the game to advance Navarrete to third and
allow her to score on a throwing error. Regina Ayala entered to pinch hit and
made good with a double through the left side to plate Love and give ULM a 7-0
cushion.
Latrice Wood and Angela Perez were the only players for
Grambling State (10-18) to get a hit and both were good for extra bases as Wood
doubled and Perez tripled but were unable to capitalize. Perez also threw a
complete game for the Lady Tigers and gave up seven runs on nine hits with one
walk and one strikeout.
The Warhawks continue their four-game road trip this weekend
when they head to Denton, Texas, for a three-game Sun Belt Conference series
against North Texas beginning with a doubleheader Saturday at 2 p.m.
