LAFAYETTE, La. -- The ULM softball program suffered a doubleheader sweep at the hands of 14th-ranked UL-Lafayette Saturday evening at Lamson Park.
The Warhawks (22-24, 6-13 Sun Belt) dropped the opener by an 8-6 tally. The Ragin' Cajuns (40-7-1, 18-1 Sun Belt) used a big first inning to hand ULM a 7-0 setback in the nightcap.
Alexis Cacioppo provided all of the offense on the day for ULM, getting a two-run homer and a grand slam in game one. She recorded her second career two-homer game and knocked in a career-best six runs.
GAME ONE - UL-L 8, ULM 6
Saturday afternoon's opener ended in an 8-6 walk-off victory for the Ragin' Cajuns. The Warhawks lead 8-6 heading to the bottom of the seventh, but a walk and a double set the stage for Samantha Walsh's three-run home run.
ULM trailed 3-0 early on, but a two-run home run from Alexis Cacioppo broke up UL-L starter Christina Hamilton's bid for both the no-hitter and the shutout in the top of the fourth.
The Cajuns got out to a 4-2 advantage on Corin Voinche's RBI single in the bottom of the fourth.
The lead wouldn't hold for long. The Warhawks had the bases loaded in the top of the fifth. Cacioppo stood in and belted her second blast of the day--a grand slam just over the fence in left center that gave the Maroon and Gold a 6-4 lead.
UL-L added a single run in the bottom of the fifth lead on a solo homer from Haley Hayden.
Both the Warhawks and the Cajuns had a quite sixth inning. Hamilton, who earned the win, sent the ULM down in order in the top of the seventh.
GAME TWO - UL-L 7, ULM 0
UL-L took game two in a 7-0 decision. The Ragin' Cajuns exploded for six runs on just two hits in the first inning. The Warhawks were never able to recover.
ULM got their first base runner of the game in the top of the fourth, when Roberts drew a 1-out walk. Cacioppo reached on a fielder's choice, but Roberts was safe at second prior to the throw. Hollie Letourneau then walked to load the bases. Unfortunately, the Warhawks were unable to score in the frame as Victoria Brown, who was credited with the victory, settled and retired the side.
ULM mustered its first hit of the contest in the top of the fifth when Molly Mackey reached on a single. Then, Kaitlyn Dupuis entered as a pinch hitter and recorded her first career hit. The Warhawks were able to put runners at the corners with one out after Courtney Dutreix reached on a fielder's choice, but a double play ended the threat.
Haylie Wilson, working in relief of Jessica Colliver, allowed the Warhawks to avoid the run rule defeat by working out of a bases-loaded, one out jam in the bottom of the sixth.
Colliver, meanwhile, allowed just two runs in five-and-two-thirds innings of relief of starter Samantha Hamby.
ULM and UL-L wrap up the series tomorrow at 1 p.m.
For more updates on the ULM softball program, follow @ULM_Softball on Twitter.
