LAKE CHARLES, La. - The ULM softball team played its
second-straight extra-inning contest on the road Thursday evening and pulled
out a 3-2 nine inning victory over in-state rival McNeese State at Cowgirl
Diamond Field.
Unable to get a runner past second since they scored in the
first inning, the Warhawks (26-23) finally strung together back-to-back singles
in the ninth inning and a fielder's choice to put Brianna Love and Lacey Willis on the
corners. With two outs Melissa Rivera dropped a two-RBI double over the second baseman's
head to plate the game-winning runs.
McNeese State (24-26) had multiple opportunities to take the
game including leaving a runner on third for the final four innings-straight. The
Cowgirls brought the score within one in the bottom of the inning when Holly
Lawrence scored on a fielding error, but superb defensive play by ULM held off
the charge.
Love led ULM at bat with a 2-for-4 performance that included
one run. Willis and Jessica Olguin also scored a run each while Rivera
knocked in two runs and Roxy Cassel added another. Miyuki Navarrete also had
one stolen base.
Tiffany Mills (13-14) picked up her second-straight complete
game performance and notched six strikeouts with nine hits and two runs.
Olguin reached base on an error and advanced to second on a
sacrifice bunt to lead off the game followed by Love who singled to the
shortstop. A passed ball allowed Olguin to reach home but Love was tagged out
at the plate to end the inning with ULM taking an early 1-0 lead.
McNeese State evened the score in the third inning when Claire
Terracina singled up the middle on two outs and stole second before a throwing
error allowed her to score.
The Cowgirls's Katie Shumaker went 3-for-5 at bat with one double
while Claire Terracina went 2-for-4 with one run and one stolen base. Kayla
Shepherd pitched the complete game and allowed three runs, two earned, on six
hits with nine strikeouts and no walks.
ULM returns home Friday to
kick off the final homestand of the regular season with a single game against
Alcorn State Friday at 4 p.m. at the ULM Softball Complex.
