MONROE, La. – Stellar pitching and offensive spark gives ULM (6-1) two run-rule victories as the Warhawks sweep day one of the Mardi Gras Classic.
Freshman pitcher Paige Porter picked up her fourth win of the season with sophomore Melanie Coyne struck out nine batters in her first victory on the year.
Junior Faith Bohack had a four RBI night, with senior Alexis Cacioppo four hits and two RBI in the two games.
Game 1: vs. Alabama State (W, 10-2)
Behind another strong outing from Porter, the Warhawks only needed six innings to knock 13 hits and score 10 runs as the Warhawks downed Alabama State (2-5).
Porter picked up her fourth win on the season dealing five inning of two-run softball. Porter spread out seven hits and three strikeouts on the night.
Bohack and senior Alexis Cacioppo lead the offense charge combining for five hits and four RBI.
The Warhawks got on the board early after sophomore Sidney Coy earned a bunt single. Coy stole second and would score off a double to left from Cacioppo to give ULM a 1-0 lead in the first.
Alabama State answered in the second inning with an RBI triple off the bat of sophomore Jazzmin Romero to lock the score at 1-1.
A four-run, third inning opened the game for ULM. After sophomore Rochelle Roberts beat out a bunt single. Back-to-back doubles from Coy and Cacioppo gave ULM a 3-1 advantage.
Redshirt senior Miyuki drew a walk, and after a double steal, Bohack drove home two with a single to left (5-1 ULM).
ULM started the fourth inning with a double to left field from sophomore Vanessa Garcia. Senior Mackenzie Miller laid down the sacrifice bunt and Roberts picked up the RBI with a sacrifice fly to center (6-1 ULM).
Alabama State pushed a run across in top of the fifth inning with the aid of a leadoff single and ULM error (6-2 ULM), but ULM would answer back in the bottom of the inning.
Navarrete reached on a fielder's choice, swiped second and advance to third on an Alabama State throwing error. Junior Amye Barre picked up an RBI with a sacrifice fly to left field (7-2 ULM).
Bohack singled up the middle and stole second to move into scoring position. Freshman Cheyanne Lyon singled through the right side to pick up the RBI (8-2 ULM).
The Warhawks put up the decisive runs in the bottom of the sixth. Sophomore McKinley Marks got the bottom of the inning started with a pinch-hit single.
Roberts bunt single to the pitcher to put two aboard. After stealing third, Miller was picked off. Coy walked and Roberts stole third to put runners on the corners.
Cacioppo would reach on the Alabama State error to push the final two runs across and give ULM the 10-2 victory.
Game 2 vs. Southeast Missouri State (W, 11-3)
ULM took another run-rule victory defeating Southeast Missouri State (0-2) with a two-run homer from Garcia.
Coyne picked up her first win on the season with six-inning, complete game outing with nine strikeouts.
Three Warhawks picked up two RBI a piece as ULM put on another impressive offense performance scoring 11 runs on 11 hits.
The Warhawks opened the game with a three-run second inning. Bohack singled to short to spark the offense. Lyon's hit by pitch and Garcia's walk loaded the bases.
Miller reached on a fielder's choice and the throwing error at home scored the first ULM run (1-0). Roberts groundout would pick up an RBI and put ULM ahead 2-0.
A second SEMO fielding gave ULM a 3-0 advantage after two.
Bohack hit her third homer of the season give ULM the 5-0 push after four innings, but SEMO would answer in the fourth scoring one run off two hits (5-1 ULM).
In the bottom of the fourth, Coy would get aboard with a bunt single to the pitcher followed by a single from Cacioppo on the left side. Navarrete sacrifice bunt moved the runners over.
Sacrifice fly from Barre would send Coy home (6-1 ULM).
ULM would score two more runs in the fifth inning with two-outs. Miller singled to second and Roberts walked to get runners aboard. Marks would drive home both with a two-RBI single through the right side. (8-1 ULM).
A homer from SEMO' s Kayla Fortner in the top of the sixth would inch the Red Hawks closer (8-3), but ULM would score three in the bottom of the inning, including a two-run bomb from Garcia to take the game 11-3.
The Warhawks return to action in day two of the Mardi Gras Classic with a doubleheader against Alabama State at 11 a.m. and Grambling at 3 p.m.
For the latest on ULM softball, visit ULMWarhawks.com and follow the team on Twitter (@ULM_Softball) and Facebook (facebook.com/ULMSoftball).
