MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - The ULM softball team took care of
business at the College of Charleston Cougar Classic Saturday, winning its
final two games of the day to open the tournament with a 3-0 record. Following
a 2-1 extra-inning win against Virginia Tech, the Warhawks (8-5) took down host
Charleston 5-4 before capping the night with a 6-2 defeat of Wagner at Patriot's
Point.
"Trying to play three games in one day is obviously very
difficult, and I really commend our kids a lot for keeping their focus," said
head coach Rosemary Holloway-Hill. "They were driven and kept in the game the
entire day. It's showing real signs of the team and that we're coming together.
Overall, they came in and played all three games and never wavered, always following
up with a bigger and better play after the hiccups. I'm very proud of them.
"This was a great way to bounce back from Houston (Houston
Hilton Plaza Invitational). Everyone contributed in some way today; it was
truly a team effort. I'm glad we played Virginia Tech first and secured that
win because it provided us the confidence to keep the momentum going throughout
the day."
ULM 5, Charleston 4:
Miyuki Navarrete went 2-for-2 and scored a team-high two runs with one RBI to
lead ULM to a 5-4 defeat of Charleston. Mackenzie Miller, Alexis Cacioppo and
Haley McCall also collected a hit each and scored one run. Haylie Wilson (3-1)
went the distance to earn her third win in the circle this season by striking
out five batters and allowing just two earned runs.
Miller doubled and Cacioppo singled to put runners on the corners
in the first inning, and Miller scored the first run of the game when the
catcher overthrew second base attempting to catch Cacioppo stealing. Roxy
Cassel singled down the right field line to send her home and take a 2-0 lead.
Two sacrifices in the third inning pushed Navarrete across
home plate after singling to get on. The Warhawks capped their scoring in the
fifth when McCall scored off another sacrifice hit by Navarrete, who extended
the lead to 5-0 when the bases loaded up and Charleston's Hope Klicker walked
in the run with Cacioppo at bat.
The Cougars (6-3) surged late in the game, getting on the
board with two runs in fifth. Charleston pulled within one run of ULM 5-4 in
the seventh inning to threaten after Amanda Lonergan doubled to score Ashton Jarrett
and Lizzy Vaughn, but the Warhawks secured the final out to squash the
comeback.
Vaughn went 2-for-2 for Charleston with two runs and a
stolen base. Jarret and Kristy Giragosian also crossed home plate once apiece.
Kilcker (3-1) picked up her first loss of the season after tossing 4.1 innings in
relief and allowing five hits and four earned runs with three strikeouts.
ULM 6, Wagner 2:
Cacioppo and Janel Salanoa each led the Warhawks at the dish going 2-for-2 with
two runs and a home run each. Navarrete, Charlotte Pastor and Kayla Boening
also had a hit each with Boening and Elena DiMattia scoring a run.
Wilson (4-1) earned her second win of the day in relief for
starter Samantha Hamby by holding off the Seahawks with six hits, one strikeout
and one walk for one earned run.
With ULM trailing 1-0 in the fourth inning, Cacioppo evened
up the score with a solo homerun over the center field wall on the first pitch
she saw. It is her third of the season, which leads ULM.
Her bomb sparked a four-run spree, as the Warhawks loaded
the bases with two walks and a single to put the pressure on with no outs. A
fielder's choice found Cassel out a home plate, but a Navarrete single scored
Salanoa followed by a Pastor single for two more RBIs to take a 4-1 lead.
Salanoa provided the game's second home run and her first of
the season in the bottom of the fifth inning to add two more runs to ULM's
lead. Cacioppo walked to reach first, and Salanoa nailed a long ball to left-center
to clear the bases.
Wagner (0-3) scored the game's first run in the third inning
when Kelsey Parker singled with a bunt to score Taylor Rauscher. Rauscher
helped send home the Seahawks' only other run of the game in the sixth inning,
doubling to left center to plate Vanessa Lenart.
Parker led the Seahawks with a 2-for-4 performance at the
dish while five others managed a hit. Judy Betz (0-2) was charged the loss
after starting the first three innings to give up three earned runs on three
hits with no strikeouts.
ULM concludes play at the College of Charleston Cougar
Classic tomorrow morning against Lipscomb at 8 a.m. CT.
