MONROE, La. -- ULM received a pair of quality starts from its starting pitchers as they won both games of a twinbill against Stephen F. Austin on Friday at Warhawk Field.
ULM 5, Stephen F. Austin 0 (DH Game 1)
The Warhawks gave starter Alex Hermeling (1-1) all the run support he needed with three runs in the home half of the first inning. Kodie Tidwell scored the first run of the game as he was able to score on Nathan Pugh's sacrifice fly to center.
Jacob Stockton followed with a RBI single to left and move to second on an error by left fielder, Garrett McMullen. Stockton's base knock plated Keelin Rasch. Stockton plated the frame's final run as he raced home on a single to left by Justin Stawychy. In all the Warhawks plated three runs on five hits with one Lumberjack error in the first inning.
Hermeling continued to shine on the mound as he tossed eight scoreless frames for ULM including a pair of perfect innings (sixth and eighth). The right-hander earned his first win of the season after tossing eight innings, scattering four hits and one walk while striking out seven. He lowered his season ERA to 2.70 behind is 106-pitch performance.
The Warhawks gave Hermeling more run support in the seventh as Spencer Hemphill scored on a sacrifice fly by Josh Faciane and Keelin Rasch drove in Cody Stone to set the final tally at 5-0.
Reliever Anthony Herrera closed out the game on the hill, allowing one hit with one strikeout during his 10-pitch outing.
Rasch and Pugh led the Warhawks with identical 2-for-4 performances with one run and one RBI.
Stephen F. Austin starter Cameron Gann was tagged with the loss and fell to 1-1 on the season. He allowed four earned runs (five total) on eight hits with three punch outs in 6.2 innings of work.
ULM 10, Stephen F. Austin 3 (DH Game 2)
The Warhawks continued their strong play in the night cap of Friday's double header. After Stephen F. Austin plated one run in the first, the Warhawks responded with a pair of runs in the home half of the third.
Dalton Todd tied the game at 1-1 as he was able to race home on a Kodie Tidwell RBI double down the right field line. ULM took its first lead in the contest when Josh Faciane scored on a high chopper to third by Keelin Rasch.
The Lumberjacks answered with two runs of their own in the top of the fourth to take a 3-2 lead. Both runs scored by Stephen F. Austin were unearned runs.
ULM continued the theme of two-run frames as it took the lead for good with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth. Nathan Pugh drove in Rasch with a RBI single to right to even the game at 3-3. One batter later, Jacob Stockton drove in Pugh with a single to right field, putting the Warhawks ahead, 4-3.
An inning later, the Warhawks broke the game open with a five-run sixth inning. Cody Stone highlighted the big inning for ULM with a two-RBI single through the left side. The home squad added a single run in the eighth to set the final tally at 10-3.
Brandon Bell (1-1) surrendered just one earned run (three total) on five hits and two walks. During his six innings of work he fanned six total batters en route to his first win as a Warhawk. Bell's quality start was the second of the day for the Warhawks.
Tidwell led the Warhawks at the plate in the night cap as he logged four hits, three RBI and one run. Pugh added two hits and two RBI, while Faciane added two hits and two runs.
Lumberjack starter Dillon Mangham (0-2) was tagged with the loss after allowing eight runs (six earned) on nine hits and two walks with four strike outs in five innings on the hill.
For updates throughout the season on the baseball squad, be sure to follow the squad on Twitter @ULM_BSB.
#PeddiePostGame
“The effort by Brandon Bell was what we expected out of him. He didn't have the best of debuts but rebounded with a strong six innings tonight to give us the doubleheader sweep.”
#WarhawkNotables
-Friday's games marked the first time since Feb. 28, 2012 that ULM and Stephen F. Austin battled on the diamond… ULM now leads the all-time series, 37-18.
-ULM scored in the first inning of game one of the DH to push its streak to four straight games to start the season.
-By holding the Lumberjacks scoreless in game one, the Warhawks extended Stephen F. Austin's scoreless streak to 23-straight innings.
-Brandon Bell earned his first win as a Warhawk in game two of the doubleheader.
-In game two of the twinbill, Kodie Tidwell tied his career-high with four hits while setting a new career best with three runs scored.
-In game two of the double header, the Warhawks set season-highs in both runs (10) and hits (13).
-Brian Barefoot recorded a double in his first collegiate at-bat (DH Game 2)… He also came around to score his first collegiate run.
#NextGame
ULM and Stephen F. Austin's series finale is tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. on Saturday. Please continue to follow ULMWarhawks.com for information about the series finale.
