RUSTON, La. – After dropping game one to Missouri State, the Warhawks rallied to top Arkansas Pine Bluff 8-2 and improve to 2-1 on the season.
The Warhawks were led by another strong outing from freshman pitcher Paige Porter, who picked up her second win, and a stellar offensive effort with five different Warhawks picking up two RBI.
Game One vs. Missouri State (L, 4-7)
A sixth-inning rally proved short as the Warhawks fell to Missouri State 4-7 in the opening game of Friday's doubleheader at the Lady Techster Complex.
Sophomore Rochelle Roberts knocked her second career triple and picked up two RBI while senior Alexis Cacioppo went 4-for-4 with one double and two RBI.
Sophomore Melanie Coyne got the start in the circle for the Warhawks going four innings and striking out three MSU (2-0) batters.
Roberts' bunt single put the Warhawks on the bases early. Roberts would score off a double down the left field line from Cacioppo, putting ULM up 1-0 in the top of the first.
Missouri State quickly answered with a solo homerun from Rebecca McPherson in the bottom of the first to lock the score at 1-1. A second-inning, solo shot would give MSU the lead (1-2).
The Bears would stretch their lead to 1-7 tacking on two runs in the fourth on back-to-back homers and three runs in the fifth with the help of two ULM errors, but the Warhawks would not go down quietly.
With two outs in the sixth, sophomore McKinley Marks singled up the middle. Redshirt senior Miyuki Navarrete doubled to put two Warhawks in scoring position.
Roberts answered the call with a triple to left, cutting the MSU lead to 3-7. Cacioppo's fourth hit of the night would score the sophomore, but it was not enough as the Warhawks fell 4-7.
Game Two vs. Arkansas Pine Bluff (W, 8-2)
Poter picked up her second career victory while three different Warhawks picked up two RBI as ULM cruised to an 8-2 victory over Arkansas Pine Bluff (0-2).
Porter dealt five innings of one-run softball scattering six hits and striking out four Golden Lions.
Sophomore Sidney Coy went 2-3 picking up two RBI with sophomore Vanessa Garcia and redshirt senior Miyuki Navarette picking up two RBI a piece.
Senior Molly Mackey drew a leadoff walk to start the second. Junior Faith Bohack grounded a fielder's choice to third, but all Warhawks runners were safe as they beat out the play.
Both runners moved to scoring position after a groundout from Garcia, and a bunt single from Coy gave ULM a 1-0 lead.
Senior Mackenize Miller picked up an RBI on a groundout to put ULM up 2-0 after two.
Arkansas Pine Bluff would cut the lead to 2-1 on back-to-back, two-out doubles in the top of third, but ULM would respond in the third.
With two outs in the bottom of the third, ULM loaded the bases with junior Amye Barre's hit by pitch, freshman Cheyanne Lyon's single and a walk from Bohack. Back-to-back singles from Garcia and Coy would stretch the ULM lead to 5-1.
ULM loaded the bases for a second time to start the fifth inning with a Barre double and back-to-back walks by Lyon and Bohack.
Arkansas Pine Bluff would pick up two quick outs, but a wild pitch by Makayla Hunter pushed a Warhawk across (6-1).
Miller would walk to load the bases once more, and Navarrete doubled down the left side to put ULM up 8-1.
With back-to-back hits, the Golden Lions would cut into the Warhawk lead (8-2) in the sixth, but a shut-down seventh inning by senior Haylie Wilson secured the ULM win.
The Warhawks will close out the Lady Techster Invitational with a doubleheader on Saturday evening facing Abilene Christian at 6 p.m. and Southern Illinois- Edwardsville at 8:15 p.m.
For the latest on ULM softball, visit ULMWarhawks.com and follow the team on Twitter (@ULM_Softball) and Facebook (facebook.com/ULMSoftball).
