MONROE, La. - The ULM softball team ended its 24th annual ULM Mardi Gras Classic with a 12-3 five inning run-rule victory over in-state foe Grambling State Sunday at the ULM Softball Complex. The victory secured a second place finish for the Warhawks in their home tournament.
Five Warhawks collected multiple hits on the day, led by Karli Wainwright who went 3-for-4 with two runs. Kayla Boening scored three runs and one RBI in a 2-for-3 performance while Alexis Cacioppo had a team-high four RBIs and the game's lone home run. Charlotte Pastor and Mackenzie Miller also crossed home plate twice apiece.
Haylie Wilson (1-1) threw her first complete game for the Warhawks this season and earned her first win by allowing just one earned run on eight hits and one walk with four strikeouts. Warhawks Wainwright, Cacioppo and Samantha Hamby each made the all-tournament team.
After entering the third inning tied 3-3, ULM (3-2) took back the lead and never relinquished it. Elena DiMattia stole second base after a single up the middle and scored when Pastor connected on a base hit, who also reached home eventually on a throwing error. Cacioppo added her bomb over the center field wall in the fifth inning to put ULM ahead 7-3, the home run being her first in a collegiate game.
Pastor and Miller got on base and executed a double steal in the fifth inning when another throwing error allowed Pastor to score once again. Boening singled for an RBI and Cacioppo nailed a ball to a gap in centerfield to score Boening and Wainwright and end the game with the run-rule.
Lady Tigers Briana Carmouche and Bridgette Simmons evened up the score in the second inning after each singled to get on. Another single advanced both runners, and a throwing error allowed Carmouche to sneak home. Simmons tagged up when Latrice Wood grounded out.
Grambling State (0-5) struck early in the first inning by using three singles and a sacrifice bunt to score Jassitte Richardson. ULM responded quickly in the bottom of the inning when Wainwright and Boening reached based and succeeded on another double steal to get in scoring position. Roxy Cassel sent them home with a single up the middle, and Janel Salanoa followed with another single to score Cassel and give ULM a 3-1 lead.
Richardson was the only player to collect multiple hits for the Lady Tigers after going 2-for-2 with one hit and one walk. Carmouche and Simmons also scored once, each in 1-for-2 performances. Angela Perez (0-4) picked up the loss in the circle with 10 earned runs allowed on 15 hits while tossing two strikeouts.
Southeast Missouri State (4-2) was the tournament champion after going 4-1 this weekend with their only loss coming against third place IUPUI (3-1). Northwestern State went 2-3 to place fourth, while SIU-Edwardsville (2-2) and Grambling State rounded out the field.
ULM takes a nearly month-long hiatus from the ULM Softball Complex when it hits the road for the first time this season, starting with the Houston Hilton Invitational in Houston, Texas next Saturday and Sunday.
All-Tournament Team:
MVP: Renee Kertz
Southeast Missouri State: Lindsey Patterson, Shea Cothern, Alora Marble
ULM: Karli Wainwright, Alexis Cacioppo, Samantha Hamby
IUPUI: Leah Prewitt, Nikki Thomas
Northwestern State: Tara McKenney, Brittany Virgoe
SIU-Edwardsville: Alex McDonald
Grambling State: Angela Perez
