MONROE, La. -- ULM opened the home portion of the 2014 slate by splitting their first two games of the Mardi Gras Classic. The Warhawks (4-3) opened the day with a 6-4 triumph over Southeast Missouri State (1-1) then suffered a 9-2 defeat against Eastern Illinois (3-3).
Vanessa Garcia was the top hitter on the day, getting a total of four hits and an RBI in Friday's action at the ULM Softball Complex while Miyuki Navarrete led the Warhawks with three RBI and three steals.
GAME ONE - ULM 6, Southeast Missouri State 4
ULM defeated Southeast Missouri State 6-4 Friday night in the Warhawks' home opener. Miyuki Navarrete's three-run blast in the bottom of the second helped propel the Warhawks to victory.
However, Courtney Dutreix and Vanessa Garcia each recorded two hits as the Warhawks went on to out-hit the Redhawks 11-7.
Southeast Missouri State struck first in the top of the second with a leadoff solo homer from third baseman Savannah Carpenter. The Redhawks' lead didn't last long as the Warhawks strung together five hits in the bottom of the frame, including Navarrete's three-run blast to straightaway center with two down to give ULM a 3-1 lead.
The Warhawks added some insurance in the home half of the third. Freshman designated player Vanessa Garcia smashed a double off the center field wall to drive in a run and put runners on second and third. Two batters later, ULM added a run on Mackenzie Miller's sacrifice fly and made it 5-1.
ULM scratched another tally across in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI fielder's choice by Rochelle Roberts to go up 6-1.
Southeast Missouri State answered in the next half inning, plating two runs. The first came across on Lindsey Patterson's RBI double. She later scored on a wild pitch to cut the Warhawk lead to three at 6-3.
Pitcher Samantha Hamby pitched around a bases-loaded jam in that inning to hold Southeast Missouri State to just two runs.
The Redhawks added another run in the top of the seventh on a heads-up base running play after a fielder's choice, but Hamby went into shutdown mode and worked around another jam in the inning.
GAME TWO - Eastern Illinois 9, ULM 2
ULM suffered a 9-2 defeat against Eastern Illinois in Friday's finale.
Alexis Cacioppo's two-run blast in the bottom of the first put ULM on top 2-0.
Cacioppo was among five Warhawks who had mult-hit games against the Panthers. Miyuki Navarrete and Courtney Dutreix joined the third baseman by going 2-for-4 while Amye Barre and Vanessa Garcia both went 2-for-3.
Eastern Illinois got a run back in the top of the third on an RBI single by Jeanette Isaac.
The Panthers tied the contest on Brooke Owens' lead off solo shot in the top of the fourth.
EIU took the lead in the top of the fifth on an RBI ground out into shallow right from the pinch hitter, Amber Toenyes.
The biggest hit of the game came in the top of the sixth, when the Panthers' April Markowski blasted a two-run homer to right field. The long ball began a five-run EIU rally in the top of the sixth, capped by Carly Willert's RBI single.
The Panthers added a solo home run in the top of the seventh to go up 9-2.
The Warhawks return to action as they continue both their 11-game home stand and the Mardi Gras Classic with contests against Houston Baptist and a rematch with the Panthers. ULM begins play at approximately 3:15 p.m.
For updates throughout the season, follow the Warhawks on Twitter @ULM_Softball for more updates.
Support the Warhawks through participation in the Athletic Foundation, join the ULMAF by calling 318-342-5415. Be sure to cheer on your Warhawks in person; to purchase tickets for the rest of the Mardi Gras Classic, please call 318-342-3ULM or visit the athletic ticket homepage.
