MONROE, La. -- The Warhawk bats exploded to lift the softball program to a pair of wins Saturday at the ULM Softball Complex.
First, ULM triumphed 8-3 over South Dakota then took a 14-4 tilt over Southern in the nightcap.
Vanessa Garcia paced the offense by going 3-for-5 and tallying a team-best six RBI across the two games. Meanwhile, Hollie Letourneau went 2-for-3 with a team-high three walks.
ULM improved to 10-4 on the season with the wins.
GAME ONE ULM 8, South Dakota 3
ULM strung together key hits in the bottom of the first to grab a four-run lead over South Dakota and never looked back in Saturday's opener.
The Coyotes got on the board with an RBI double in the top of the first, but ULM would answer immediately in the bottom of the frame.
Miyuki Navarrete got the Warhawks on the board with a solo homer to deep left to start the ULM scoring. Four batters later, Faith Bohack came through with an RBI single to score Alexis Cacioppo from second. The run put ULM on top 2-1, but the team was not done. With two outs and runners at first and second, Vanessa Garcia once again delivered the big blow of the inning--a three-run homer to left center that gave the Warhawks a 5-1 lead.
South Dakota plated two runs in the top of the third as the result of a base hit and two ULM errors. The score remained 5-3 in favor of the Warhawks until the bottom of the fourth.
In that inning, Hollie Letourneau belted her fourth homer of the year. ULM added a triple by Rochelle Roberts in the bottom of the fifth to complete the scoring.
Samantha Hamby improved to 5-1 in the complete game victory.
GAME TWO -- ULM 14, Southern 4 (5 inn.)
The Warhawks got on the board early and scored often in their 14-X victory over Southern to end play Saturday.
For the second straight game, ULM plated five in the bottom of the first. Robbie Dailey's two-out, two-run double capped the Warhawk scoring in the frame.
The Warhawks added seven runs in the bottom of the second, capitalizing on three Lady Jaguar errors.
Mackenzie Miller capped ULM's offensive outpouring with a two-run homer in the bottom of the third.
Melanie Coyne was magnificent in the victory, going four and a third innings and yielding just one hit while striking out eight. She improved to 2-1 on the season.
The Warhawks re-match both Alcorn and Southern tomorrow to conclude the Warhawk Classic. The first game will start at approximately 12 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 Warhawk Classic, please call 318-342-3ULM or visit the athletic ticket homepage.
