LAFAYETTE, La. – Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning, the ULM softball program rallied for two runs to defeat Troy 3-2 in the opening game of the Sun Belt Conference Championships to advance on Wednesday at Lamson Park.
The frame began for sixth-seeded ULM (23-25) with a leadoff single to rightfield by Sidney Coy. She advanced to second base on a groundout, and moved to third on a bloop single from All-Conference Second-Team selection Miyuki Navarrete. Freshman of the Year Rochelle Roberts followed with a hard-hit ball that the shortstop could not handle, as all runners were safe to load the bases with one out.
Alexis Cacioppo came through with a fly ball to rightfield to tie the game on a sacrifice fly as Coy beat the throw home. Navarrete and Roberts each moved up a base on the throw to set up second and third with two outs. Navarette scored the game-winner on a wild pitch.
Samantha Hamby (15-15) earned the win by tossing a complete-game, two-hitter. She out-dueled Ashley Rainey (9-6) from Troy (22-30-2) who allowed eight hits and struck out four in 6.2 innings.
The seventh-seeded Trojans struck first in their first at-bat with a one-out sacrifice fly from Meg Willis to score Kacie McAllister. Troy tacked on another in the fourth inning on a two-out single by Michelle Phelps to plate Leah Brundidge from second base.
ULM got one back in the bottom of the fourth. Amye Barre got it started with a double to the wall in centerfield and Kaitlyn Dupuis came in to pitch-run. Faith Bohack followed with a base-hit to put runners on the corners with one out. Bohack stole second and the ball was thrown away to allow Dupuis to come home from third base.
Bohack finished the game two-for-three at the plate, while Navarrete also registered a pair of hits. ULM out-hit Troy 8-2 in the contest.
The Warhawks did not commit an error in the game.
ULM will have a quick turnaround as it takes on third-seeded Georgia State in an elimination game at approximately 3:00 p.m. in the second round of the SBC Championships.
