BOCA RATON, Fla. - ULM could not overcome an early deficit
and a weather delay to fall to South Alabama 6-0 on the first day of the Sun
Belt Conference Softball Championship Wednesday at FAU Stadium.
Charlotte Pastor was one of three players for the game and
the lone Warhawk to have multiple hits in a 2-for-3 performance. Kayla Boening
and Janel Salanoa went 1-for-2 and 1-for-3, respectively.
Three pitchers made an appearance for ULM, with Haylie
Wilson allowing three earned runs on five hits in 4.1 innings. Samantha Hamby (7-6)
also allowed three runs as the starter, and Jessica Chastka had a spotless 1.2
innings performance to close out the game.
The Warhawks (24-25) got into trouble early on when the
Jaguars led off the game with two walks and used back-to-back doubles by
Brittany Fowler and Haley Hopkins to score two runs and keep two runners in
scoring position with no outs. ULM turned a crucial double play off a sacrifice
fly and escaped the inning with a ground out trailing 3-0.
Play was suspended at 2:08 p.m. ET before the start of the
third inning when lightning struck within range of the field. A 2:17 delay
ensued which included a thunderstorm before the game resumed at 4:25 p.m. ET.
Despite the delay, ULM was unable to squelch South Alabama
(36-15) as it used its third double of the day to add two more runs. A solo
home run by Fowler two innings later pushed their advantage to 6-0.
Boening doubled and Salanoa reached on a fielder's choice
and advanced a base to put two Warhawks in scoring position to threaten in the
sixth inning. An amazing play by South Alabama in foul territory shut down the
attempt.
It is the second time in two years South Alabama defeated
ULM in the first round of the conference championship.
Fowler went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs to lead the
Jaguars. Hopkins had one run and one RBI after going 2-for-3 as well and Megan
Collins had three RBIs on just one hit. Hannah Campbell (20-10) threw a
complete game shutout with four hits and six strikeouts.
ULM enters the loser's bracket and will play an elimination
game tomorrow morning against No. 6 Troy, who lost game one of the tournament
to No. 3 FIU. Game time is scheduled for 10 a.m. CT.
