LAFAYETTE, La. -- ULM
(8-12, 0-3) loaded the bases with one out in the top of the ninth inning but
the Warhawks were unable to push any runs across as UL-Lafayette (16-3, 3-0)
held on for a 3-2 victory Sunday afternoon at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field.
In the ninth, Kodie Tidwell and Dudley collected
back-to-back singles with one out to force a pitching change by UL-Lafayette as
starter Cody Boutte was replaced by Matt Hicks.
Brandon Alexander, who pinch-hit for Bergeron, reached on a fielder's
choice to the pitcher and the bases were loaded thanks to a throwing error by
Hicks that allowed Dudley to reach second base.
ULM again used a pinch hitter, this time Corben Green reached on a
fielder's choice to the pitcher, but Tidwell was forced out at home. With the bases still loaded, Herrington
grounded out allowing the Ragin' Cajuns to hold on for the 3-2 victory.
Warhawk starter Alex Dumaine was tagged with the loss and
he falls to 1-1 on the season after allowing two earned runs on six hits with
four walks and three strikeouts in just 3.1 innings of work. Reliever Tyler Bray allowed just one run on
five hits with two walks and a career-best seven strikeouts in 4.2 innings.
Ragin' Cajun starter Cody Boutte earned his fourth win of
the year as he allowed two runs on six hits with one walk and five strikeouts
in 8.1 innings. Reliever Matt Hicks
recorded the final two outs of Sunday's game to pick up his seventh save of the
season.
The Warhawks, like they did the previous two contests at
UL-Lafayette, plated the first run of the contest, this time in the top of the
third. Dalton Herrington led off the
inning by being hit by a pitch and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Judd
Edwards. Jeff Fuller followed with a RBI
single to left that bounced into the air allowing Herrington to race around
home to give ULM a 1-0 lead.
The Ragin' Cajuns responded with two runs in the home
half of the third to take a 2-1 advantage.
Blake Trahan led off with a solo homer over the wall in left, while
Caleb Adams doubled to left center and later scored on Tyler Girouard's RBI
single up the middle.
After UL-Lafayette put two runners on base via walks in
the bottom of the fourth, Dumaine was replaced by Bray. Bray recorded a fly out and after a walk
loaded the bases, he struck out Tyler Girouard to end the Ragin' Cajun threat.
The Ragin' Cajuns threatened again in the fifth as they
loaded the bases following a hit by pitch and back-to-back singles. Bray was able to shut the door on
UL-Lafayette in the fifth as he struck out a pair of batters and recorded a fly
out.
UL-Lafayette pushed its lead to two runs with a single
run in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Tyler Girouard singled to right center with one out allowing Seth
Harrison to cross home plate.
Chris Dudley led off the top of the seventh with a triple
to right field. Dudley scored on Ryan
Bergeron's sacrifice fly to right to close the gap to one run (3-2).
The Warhawks made things interesting the the ninth, but
were unable to even the contest as a force out at home and a groundout ended
Sunday's contest.
Chris Dudley lead the Warhawks with two hits (one triple)
and one run in Sunday's finale. Meanwhile,
Tyler Girouard paced the Ragin' Cajuns with two hits and two RBI.
ULM will return to action Tuesday night as it wraps up a
four-game road swing at Grambling State with first pitch slated for 6 p.m. Following the battle against the Tigers, the
Warhawks will welcome the Troy Trojans to Warhawk Field for a three-game conference
series as part of Super Warhawk Weekend.
The three game conference set will begin Friday night at 6 p.m.
