TROY, Ala. – ULM earned its first Sun Belt win of the season Sunday afternoon in a 7-4 thriller. Freshman catcher Kayla Prater's two-out grand slam capped a six-run seventh inning and proved to be the game winning hit.
Troy (14-19, 4-4 Sun Belt) took a 1-0 after a back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the first. ULM (14-17, 1-5 Sun Belt) answered in the top of the second in a big way. Faith Bohack led off the inning with her first collegiate home run.
The game remained tied at one until the bottom of the fifth. The Trojans scored two runs on bases-loaded walks and added another run on an RBI fielder's choice and took a 4-1 lead. ULM starter Stephanie Routzon escaped further damage, however, and left the bases loaded.
ULM battled back into the contest in the top of the seventh. Hope Mair led off with a pinch-hit single. Two runs came across on a pair of RBI groundouts from Courtney Dutreix and Haley McCall. Alexis Cacioppo and Janel Salanoa both drew two-out walks to load the bases for Kayla Prater.
Prater's grand slam was the first of her career and her third home run of the season. It was also her first hit of the day.
Routzon improved to 8-6 on the season with the victory.
ULM broke a three-game losing streak dating back to Tuesday's loss at McNesse State. The Warhawks also snapped a seven-game regular-season Sun Belt skid going back to May 5, 2012.
The Warhawks host Middle Tennessee Friday in a double header. First pitch of game one is at 4 p.m.
