AUSTIN, Texas -- The ULM softball program dropped both of its games Saturday at the Texas Classic.
First, the Warhawks fell 9-8 to Southern Miss then suffered a 9-1 defeat against Texas in five innings to end the day.
Alexis Cacioppo went 3-for-4 with four RBI in game one to pace the squad.
GAME ONE -- Southern Miss 9, ULM 8
ULM (13-7) suffered a 9-8 setback as it could not overcome a seven run Southern Miss rally in its first game Saturday at McCombs field. The big inning came not long after the Warhawks had gotten out to a 7-1 lead in the top of the fifth.
The Warhawks struck almost immediately in the top of the first. Alexis Cacioppo hit a seeing-eye single into left to score Miyuki Navarrete, who drew a lead-off walk and made it 1-0 ULM.
The Eagles (6-12) answered back in the bottom of the first on Katie Cleary's game-tying RBI double.
The contest remained knotted at one until the flood gates opened for the Warhawks in the top of the fourth.
Hollie Letourneau drew a lead-off walk. After pinch-runner Kaitlyn Dupuis went to second on sacrifice bunt, Sidney Coy drove in Dupuis with an RBI double to give ULM a 2-1 lead.
Coy later stole third and was driven in on Molly Mackey's RBI double into right. The Warhawks tallied another run when Mackenzie Miller hit into an RBI fielder's choice that scored Vanessa Garcia from third, giving ULM a 4-1 lead. Garcia had reached on a dropped third strike. Courtney Dutreix added an RBI base knock followed by the inning's biggest blow--a two-run double from Alexis Cacioppo to make it 7-1 Warhawks.
Southern Miss got a run back in the bottom of the fourth on Sarah Evans' RBI single.
The Eagles continued to chip away at the ULM lead, plating seven in the fifth.
The frame began with a walk and a ULM error. Cleary's two-run double drew Southern Miss within three at 7-4, but the Eagles went on to add four more runs in the frame. A two run double by Evans and a sacrifice fly from Taylor Beck tied the contest at seven. The Eagles took the lead on a costly two-run ULM error with two down.
The Warhawks got a run back in the top of the sixth on Alexis Cacioppo's RBI triple, making it 9-8 USM. It was the second three-base hit of her career.
ULM was able to get a runner to second in the top of the seventh but could not score.
The Eagles' Shelbee Rodgers was credited with the win, fanning 13 Warhawks in the complete game effort. Meanwhile, Samantha Hamby suffered her third loss of the season.
GAME TWO -- Texas 9, ULM 1 (5 inn.)
ULM fell 9-1 to Texas (12-9) in five innings in Saturday's nightcap.
Despite getting on the board first on Faith Bohack's RBI sacrifice fly to score Miyuki Navarrete, the Warhawks only had one other base runner in the contest.
The Longhorns plated two runs in both the bottom of the first and the second innings to get to a 4-1 lead. After a relatively quiet third inning, they got out to a 7-1 lead with three runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Texas' Lindsey Stephens provided the final blow with a two-run triple in the bottom of the sixth.
ULM concludes the Texas Classic tomorrow against Southern Miss at 10 a.m. The game was moved up an hour due to the threat of inclement weather in the Austin area.
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 on March 3 vs. LSU! First pitch is at 6 p.m. For more information, please call 318-342-3ULM or visit the athletic ticket homepage.
