STATESBORO, Ga. – Sophomore Melanie Coyne delivered a three-hit shutout in the series finale as the Warhawks (24-8, 8-2 SBC) swept Georgia Southern (8-25, 1-11 SBC) at Eagle Field.
The series sweep marked the second of the season and the first time the Warhawks have swept two three-game series against conference opponents since moving to the Sun Belt conference in 2007.
The Warhawks have already surpassed 2014's Sun Belt win total of six and are two conference games shy of matching the all-time Sun Belt win total of 10 games set by the 2011 program. The Warhawks are also one game shy from matching 2014's overall win total of 25 games.
Coyne delivered her fifth shutout outing of the season as she went a full seven innings allowing just three hits, issuing two walks and striking out two batters. Coyne picked up her team-leading ninth win on the year to move her record to 9-4.
Junior Faith Bohack knocked her fifth home run of the season with a two-RBI shot in the seventh inning. Bohack went 1-for-3 on the day with two RBI and scoring two Warhawk runs. Sophomore Vanessa Garcia continued to be strong in conference play as she went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
Sophomore Rochelle Roberts led off the game with a bunt single, but for the first time all season, Roberts was caught stealing to give the Warhawks an early out.
Bohack drew a one-out walk and swiped second to move into scoring position. Redshirt senior Miyuki Navarrete flew out to left field, but the hit was deep enough to allow Bohack to tag up and advance to third base.
Senior Alexis Cacioppo doubled up the middle to score Bohack (1-0 ULM), and was followed by a double down the left field line from junior Amye Barre to put Warhawks on second and third with two outs.
Sophomore Vanessa Garcia capitalized by singling up the middle to score Cacioppo and drive the first-inning lead to 2-0.
Navarrete singled up the middle with one out to give the Warhawks a base runner in the top of the third. Cacioppo doubled to left field to move the Warhawk runners to second and third.
Barre reached on a fielder's choice as the Eagles made the throw to home plate, but Navarrete would slide under the tag to push the ULM lead to 3-0.
Garcia knocked her second single of the game to drive home another RBI and extend the lead to 4-0.
The Warhawks and Eagles would exchange three scoreless innings, before the Warhawks added to their lead in the top of the seventh.
Roberts led off the inning with a double down the left field line, and Bohack knocked her fifth homer on the season to drive the score to 6-0 securing the shutout victory.
The Warhawks continue their road stand as they travel to Baton Rouge, La., on March 31 to face the top ranked Tigers of LSU at 6 p.m.
For the latest on ULM softball, visit ULMWarhawks.com and follow the team on Twitter (@ULM_Softball) and Facebook (facebook.com/ULMSoftball).
