HOUSTON - The ULM softball team fell in a tough 13-0
decision to No. 17 Houston Sunday afternoon to close out the Houston Hilton
Plaza Invitational at Cougar Softball Stadium. The Cougars allowed just four
hits for the five inning run-rule result.
Karli Wainwright was the only ULM player with multiple hits
after going 2-for-3. Roxy Cassel and Janel Salanoa each singled for the
Warhawks' only other hits in 1-for-2 performances. Three pitchers made an
appearance in the circle, with Stephanie Routzon (1-2) picking up the loss
after allowing eight earned runs on eight hits in 3.1 innings.
The Warhawks secured two groundouts to start the third inning
and had at least two more failed attempts at the final out to give the Cougars
the opportunity to run up the scoreboard 5-0. The first run scored off a single,
and two straight walks loaded the bases when Jaime Edwards blasted a home run for
her first career grand slam.
Kendra Cullum singled and Reina Gaber walked to lead off the
fourth inning for the Cougars before Holly Anderson homered for three runs to push
the advantage to 8-0. Houston locked up the run-rule after loading the bases
and using a double that fell barely short of the game's second grand slam to
score three RBIs. Two more runs crossed home plate before the inning ended,
Houston leading 13-0.
Kayla Boening and Karli Wainright reached in the third
inning and Boening was in scoring position to threaten the Cougars with two
outs, but Alexis Cacioppo's solid contact with the ball fell just feet short of
the right field wall to end the inning.
Gaber went 3-for-3 to lead the Cougars at the plate while Anderson
drove home four RBIs. Five different Houston players contributed two runs on
the day, with three others chipping in single scores. Summer Groholski (1-0)
threw 4.0 innings to earn her first win of the season after allowing just four
hits and one walk with two strikeouts.
ULM hits the road again for a long road trip next week,
first for a single game Wednesday at 5 p.m. against Samford. The Warhawks then
head to Charleston, S.C. for the College of Charleston Cougar Classic Friday
through Sunday where it faces Charleston, Lipscomb, Wagner and Virginia Tech.
