MONROE, La. -- All eight of
ULM's seniors played for ULM in its 4-3 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette in the
Warhawks season finale Saturday evening at Warhawk Field. The victory by ULM
evened up the season series with ULL at three games each.
Senior Drew Grainer (4-5)
earned the win for the Warhawks after holding the Cajuns to just one run on two
hits over five innings of work. He did not issue a walk and struck out seven
batters to raise his season total 86 -- the most by a ULM pitcher since
Matt Green's 141 in 2005. In his two appearances against ULL this season,
Granier limited the Cajuns to just three hits and two runs in 14 innings of
work.
After senior James Jones
recorded the final out of the eighth and first out of the ninth, senior Luke
Briley closed out the game for the Warhawks (24-30, 9-21 Sun Belt) with a
double play and a strikeout for his first career save.
Judd Edwards plated the
game-winning runs with a two-out single in the seventh inning. Senior Jarrett
Hammond reached on an error by shortstop Greg Fontenot on what would have been
the final out of the inning. The Cajuns then intentionally walked Joey Rapp and
Caleb Clowers beat out an infield single to load the bases before Edwards
punched a 1-2 offering from Joey Satriano back up the middle for the final two
runs of ULM's season.
Rapp, Clowers, Edwards and Les
Aulds all finished with two hits for the Warhawks as they out-hit the Cajuns
11-4 on the night. Senior Matt Laird went 1-for-4 to take over sole possession
of 10th place on the ULM career hits list with 188. Senior Shane
Ardoin also hit a hit for the Warhawks.
Mike Petello hit his third
home run of the weekend to put the Cajuns (31-24, 18-12) on top in the first
inning after Fontenot was hit by a pitch to lead off the game.
Rapp put the Warhawks on the
board with his 13th home run of the season in the sixth. The
towering shot down the left-field line put him 11th on the ULM
single-season homer list.
Clowers and Edwards followed
with back-to-back singles to chase ULL starter T.J. Geith. Following a
strikeout, Joey Cesario lined a single back up the middle to score Clowers and
tie the game at 2-all.
The Cajuns regained the lead
in the seventh with a two-out rally. Former Warhawk Chris Sinclair drove home
Daniel Nichols with a single through the left side following a hit batter and a
single.
Senior Jordy Poche made the
start on the mound for the Warhawks after having his role as a pitcher reduced
to just two appearances this season prior to Saturday due to a shoulder injury.
Poche allowed a pair of runs on two hits over 2.1 innings and struck out one in
his 28th career pitching start for ULM.
Satriano (4-4) took the loss
for ULL after he allowed a pair of unearned runs on four hits over 1.2 innings.
ULM will host the Sun Belt
Conference Tournament next week. The tournament opens on Tuesday at 7 p.m. with
Family Night. Admission to Family Night is free and fans will be treated to a
home run derby and fireworks show. The games begin Wednesday at 11 a.m. and
tickets can be purchased by calling 318-342-3ULM.
