AUBURN, Ala. -- ULM opened the Plainsman Invitational with a pair of victories Friday to start the 2014 campaign. The Warhawks were led by outstanding pitching performances by Samantha Hamby and Jessica Colliver and stellar offensive efforts by Alexis Cacioppo, who tallied five RBI on the day, and Faith Bohack, who had a career game in the night cap.
GAME 1 - ULM 9, Tennessee Tech 6
ULM defeated Tennessee Tech 9-6 in its season opener Friday thanks to heads-up base running on a Golden Eagle error in the bottom of the sixth. Senior pitcher Samantha Hamby dealt a career-best nine strikeouts in the complete game victory while junior third baseman Alexis Cacioppo paced the offense by going 2-of-3 with four RBI on a homer and a two-run single.
Tennessee Tech got on the board early with a two-run blast from left fielder Olivia Bennett in the top of the first.
After that point, Hamby settled into a groove and retired the next five batters.
The Golden Eagles threatened in the top of the third with two on no out, but Hamby worked masterfully to escape the jam. She struck out Angie Sakamoto before forcing the next batter to line into an inning-ending double play turned by Cacioppo and Molly Mackey.
Cacioppo's bat came through in the bottom of the third. With the bases loaded and two down, she singled through the middle of the infield to drive in Rochelle Roberts, who singled earlier in the frame, and Miyuki Navarrete, who reached on a fielder's choice.
Over the next several half innings, Hamby retired nine straight Golden Eagle batters. The contest remained tied until ULM plated three in the bottom of the fifth.
In that frame, the Warhawks grabbed the lead on Courtney Dutreix's RBI single. Cacioppo then took the very next pitch down the left field line to give the Warhawks a 5-2 lead. The shot forced TTU to make a pitching change.
Tennessee Tech clawed back to within one with a two-run home by Sakamoto then took the lead after back-to-back hits in the top of the sixth.
Things looked bleak for ULM in the bottom of the frame, but Dutreix drew a two out, bases-loaded walk to tie the contest at six. One batter later, Cacioppo hit a fly ball to left that looked routine, but it was dropped. Three runs scored as a result of the miscue.
The Warhawk defense got the Warhawks out of trouble in the top of the seventh. After a leadoff single, Hamby recorded her ninth strikeout of the game and then forced a fly out. TTU eventually loaded the bases after another single and a hit batter. Then, Hamby forced Madison Taylor to foul out to catcher Amye Barre to secure the victory.
GAME TWO - ULM 7, Morehead State 1
ULM defeated Morehead State by a tally of 7-1 to end play Friday afternoon. The win was thanks in part to a stellar pitching performance by junior Jessica Colliver.
Colliver went the distance and held the Eagles to just one run on three hits. She also allowed five walks and struck out two.
Meanwhile, sophomore shortstop Faith Bohack powered the offense with a career day. She went 4-for-4 with five RBI on a first inning inside-the-park homer and a three-run no-doubter in the top of the seventh. Her four hits and five RBI established career bests in both categories.
The Warhawks got most of their scoring done in the first inning, putting three runs across. Miyuki Navarrete led off the frame with a walk then stole two bases. She was brought in by Alexis Cacioppo on an RBI single. Bohack then tripled to drive in Cacioppo and scored on the toss home.
ULM added a run in the top of the sixth on Vanessa Garcia's first career RBI, which came on her second hit of the game.
The Warhawks got some insurance in the top of the seventh thanks to a Bohack's three-run blast. The homer came after Courtney Dutreix drew a leadoff walk and Cacioppo singled and reached second on the throw.
The Warhawks return to action tomorrow afternoon with games against Auburn at about 5:30 PM and a rematch with Morehead State to follow.
For more updates on the ULM softball program, follow @ULM_Softball on Twitter.
Support the Warhawks through participation in the Athletic Foundation, join the ULMAF by calling 318-342-5415.
Notes:
-Rochelle Roberts, Vanessa Garcia, Robbie Dailey and Sidney Coy all recorded their first ULM career hits Friday.
-Miyuki Navarrete stole three bases on the day, giving her 48 in her career.
-Faith Bohack's three runs scored set a new career high.
