MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Justin Stawychny belted a pair of homers, including one in the top of the 10th, but it was not enough as ULM dropped a 5-4 decision to Middle Tennessee Sunday afternoon at Reese Smith Jr. Field.
After the two teams traded zeros on the scoreboard in the eighth and ninth, Stawychny cranked his second homer of the game as his solo blast snuck inside the foul pole along the left field line. Orginally, the umpires ruled it foul but after a discussion it was overturned and ULM (18-33, 7-20) moved in front, 4-3.
Middle Tennessee (28-25, 11-16) started the bottom of the 10th with a leadoff single by Hank LaRue and Trent Miller followed with a RBI double to the gap in right center to even the game at 4-4. After Miller moved to third on a groundout, the Warhawks opted to intentionally load the bases to set up the double play. Unfortunately for ULM, a 1-1 offering by Carey Taylor hit Dain McNabb and walked in the winning run as the Blue Raiders claimed a 5-4 victory.
ULM's Taylor (1-6) was tagged with the loss after allowing two runs on two hits with four walks (two intentional) in 2.1 innings of relief.
Blue Raider reliever Joey McClung (3-2) earned the win despite allowing the homer to Stawychny in the 10th. McClung allowed one run on one hit with one strikeout in 1.1 innings. Miller lead Middle Tennessee with two hits, two runs and one RBI.
Middle Tennessee, as it did the previous two games of the weekend series, scored the game's first run in the first inning. On Sunday, the Blue Raiders struck for two runs off of ULM starter Jared Dye. With one out in the frame, Ryan Stephens connected on a two-run homer over the wall in right field to put Middle Tennessee in front, 2-0.
After four straight frames of zeros between both teams, the Warhawks finally broke through and took the lead on one swing of the bat. Brandon Alexander and Judd Edwards collected back-to-back singles to leadoff the sixth, Justin Stawychny sent a 0-1 offering over the wall in left to give ULM a 3-2 lead with one out in the frame.
Middle Tennessee evened the game at three-all when Jake Ellison homered off of ULM reliever Tyler Bray to lead off the Blue Raider seventh.
ULM will close out the regular season as it welcomes in-state rival UL-Lafayette to Warhawk Field for a three-game series beginning Thursday night at 6 p.m.
