MONROE, La - The ULM baseball team dropped a
competitive 3-2 decision to McNeese State Tuesday afternoon at Warhawk
Field. It was the final non-conference
match-up of the season for the Warhawks, as well as the final home game of
2012.
ULM (25-27) reliever Brent Gay (0-1) sat down
the first two hitters he faced in the top of the second inning, retiring Matt
Williams and Matt Henry swinging. Gay
forced Andrew Guillotte to fly out to left field to end the frame.
McNeese State (23-26) took the lead in the
top of the fourth inning, as Seth Granger laced a two-out single to left field,
plating Tyler Klouser from second base (1-0).
Gay induced Renny Weber into a 4-3 groundout to end the inning.
Jeremy Sy worked a 3-1 walk to become the first
ULM base runner in the bottom of the fourth inning. Caleb Clowers laced a one-out single through
the right side to move Sy to third base.
Joey Rapp drew a full-count walk to load the bases. McNeese State starter Trey McGee (3-2) forced
Corben Green and Judd Edwards to line out and fly out to strand all three
runners on base.
McNeese State opened its lead to 3-0 on an
RBI single up the middle by Weber in the top of the sixth inning.
The Warhawks loaded the bases once more in
the bottom of the sixth inning, as Jeff Fuller worked a pinch hit walk. McGee walked Edwards to bring Sy home and
close the ULM deficit to 3-1. Brandon
Alexander flew out to left field to end the inning.
Justin Stawychny drilled the first pitch he
saw from Ryan Sampere over the left field wall in the bottom of the seventh
inning, drawing the Warhawks within one run (3-2).
Clowers made a nice stab on a line drive off
the bat of Connor Lloyd, doubling off Granger at first base to close the top of
the eighth inning.
Edwards and Stawychny each led the Warhawks
with one RBI apiece, while Sy added a stolen base and a run scored. Gay threw a solid 8.0 innings of relief,
walking five and striking out three to take the loss.
Granger led all hitters with a 3-for-4
outing, adding an RBI and a run scored for McNeese State. McGee allowed one earned run in 5.2 innings
to pick up the win.
ULM finishes the Sun Belt Conference regular
season schedule this weekend at UL-Lafayette.
First pitch Thursday is scheduled for 6 p.m.
