MONROE, La. -- Freshman Vanessa Garcia helped propel ULM to two dramatic walk-off extra-inning victories over Troy Saturday as the Warhawks swept the doubleheader at the ULM Softball Complex.
Garcia was only 2-for-7 on the day, but her two hits were huge for the Warhawks (17-14, 3-5 Sun Belt). Her first hit was a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth in the opener. She followed that up with a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the eighth in the nightcap.
Samantha Hamby earned the wins in both contest, throwing a combined 13 innings, allowing just one run on seven total hits, striking out a nine total batters.
GAME ONE - ULM 1, Troy 0 (9 innings)
ULM walked off as 1-0 winners over Troy (16-24-2, 1-8 Sun Belt) after nine innings when Vanessa Garcia homered on the second pitch of the bottom of the ninth.
Samantha Hamby pitched a career-high nine innings and allowed just two hits while striking out six in the shutout win. Troy's Jaycee Affeldt was just as good in the losing effort, going eight-plus innings, allowing one run on three hits, including Garcia's homer.
Hamby's no-hit bid was broken up in the top of the fifth by Troy's Alison Milam, who singled with one out and a runner on second. A great throw from Mackenzie Miller to Hollie Letourneau helped preserve the shutout bid, however, as the pair teamed up to cut down Troy pinch runner Bria Epps, who tried to score from second on the play.
Both pitchers, in fact, had no-hit bids into the fifth inning. Hollie Letourneau led off the bottom of the frame with a single.
Alexis Cacioppo also recorded a hit each in the contest.
GAME TWO - ULM 4, Troy 3 (8 innings)
Once again, the Warhawks won in walk-off fashion over the Trojans to conclude play Saturday. Vanessa Garica drove in Robbie Dailey from third, cashing in on a walk to the ULM catcher.
After Troy took a 3-2 advantage in the top of the eighth on a bases-loaded single, Hamby was able to stop the bleeding working out of the jam by retiring the next three batters.
Alexis Cacioppo blasted her fourth home run of the season on a 1-1 pitch to start the bottom of the eighth inning and knot the game at 3-3.
Then, Dailey walked and worked her way to third after a ground out and a single from Rochelle Roberts, setting up Garcia's hit.
Hamby earned the victory in relief, tossing four innings and allowing just one run on five hits and three walks. She also struck out three. Sarah Thomas suffered the loss after surrendering the homer.
The Trojans got on the board first, plating their first run on a wild pitch. Then, Rachel Rigney hit an RBI single to drive in the second run.
The Warhawks answered with single runs in the second and third innings. Mackenzie Miller tallied an RBI single to score ULM's first run in the first while Cacioppo plated Miyuki Navarrete for the squad's second run in the third.
Haylie Wilson pitched very well in relief of starter Jessica Colliver, going on a stretch where she sent down eight in a row. Wilson pitched 3.2 innings and did not allow a run on three hits and a walk.
Troy starter Ashley Rainey pitched seven innings and yielded two runs on seven hits while fanning two.
The Warhawks return to action tomorrow to conclude the series at 1 p.m.
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