BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Warhawks came out on top in a high-powered
offensive battle that saw 21 combined hits Wednesday evening as the ULM
softball team earned a 7-6 victory over Samford at Bulldog Softball Field. After
two ties ULM scored three runs in the fifth and sixth innings to hold the
advantage for the remainder of the game.
Alexis Cacioppo was dominant at the plate with a 2-for-3
performance in which she scored three runs, one RBI and hit her second career
home run. Janel Salanoa also drove in two RBIs going 3-for-4 with a stolen
base. Elena DiMattia, Charlotte Pastor and Mackenzie Miller also had a run
each.
Haylie Wilson picked up the win in the circle in relief,
throwing five innings with four runs, two earned runs and two strikeouts.
Samantha Hamby started for the Warhawks (5-5) and tossed two innings while
allowing four earned runs and two strikeouts.
Following a scoreless fourth frame, Cacioppo broke the 4-4 tie off a Salanoa single in the bottom of the fifth. Cassel and Salanoa both
got into scoring position off the throw to home plate before an error by the
pitcher allowed Cassel to go home and take a 5-3 lead.
DiMattia provided ULM's lone run in the sixth inning after
reaching base with an infield single and advancing two bases on an error and
wild pitch. Miller laid down a sacrifice bunt on the squeeze play and DiMattia
safely crossed home plate.
The Bulldogs (3-5) threated in the final inning when Misha
Aldridge entered to pinch hit and walked followed by a Shelby Scott home run to
clear the bases and pull within one 7-6. The Warhawks secured the last two outs
to end the last-minute comeback.
Pastor singled to lead off the game and scored when the
third baseman committed an error off a single by Miller, allowing her to
advance to third. Cacioppo walked to get on and executed a successful double
steal the put the Warhawks ahead 2-0. Salanoa's single sent Cacioppo home for
one more run before the inning ended.
Samford got on the board with a single score in the first
inning and added two more in the second to even up the ballgame. The Bulldogs loaded
the bases on one out and back-to-back singles by Rachel Bickert and Abby Adams sent
two runners home.
Cacioppo pushed ULM out to a one run lead in the third
inning with her team-leading second bomb of the season to right field. Samford
answered in the bottom of the inning when Madison Dickey singled up the middle
to score Madeline Baker.
Scott led the Bulldogs at the plate with a 2-for-3 effort
that included two runs and two RBIs. Bickert provided one run and one RBI in a
1-for-3 performance while three other Samford players contributed a run. Robyn
Harmon (2-1) earned the loss after allowing four earned runs in 5.0 innings with
no strikeouts.
The Warhawks travel to the College of Charleston Cougar
Classic for four games this weekend. ULM takes on host Charleston Friday at 5
p.m. and Wagner and Lipscomb on Saturday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.
ULM ends with a game against Virginia Tech on Sunday at 9 a.m.
