Comeback Victory Locks Doubleheader Sweep and Series Win over Mountaineers
WINGATE, N.C. – A career day from sophomore Melanie Coyne and a thrilling comeback from a four-run deceit secured a doubleheader sweep for the Warhawks over Appalachian State and locked a win in the first Sun Belt series of the season.
The Warhawks (16-6, 2-0 SBC) was powered by Coyne's career-high 12 strikeouts in game one of the series, which saw the offense put up 10 runs over the Mountaineers (8-9, 0-2 SBC).
Appalachian State look strong early in game two, picking up a quick four-run lead and holding the Warhawks scoreless through three innings, but solid team efforts at the plate and on the mound propelled the Warhawks to the sweep.
Sweeping the first two games of the doubleheader lock the Warhawks for the series win. It is the first Sun Belt conference-opening series win for ULM since the 2009 season when the Warhawks took the series opener at Texas State.
Game 1 (W, 10-1)
A career day on the mound and at the plate for Coyne lifted ULM to decisive, run-rule victory in game one of the Sun Belt opener versus Appalachian State.
Coyne pitch five innings of three-hit softball, allowing a single run. The sophomore struck out a career-high 12 batters to move to 3-3 on the season. The sophomore was just as lethal at the plate, picking up a two-RBI single.
Senior Alexis Cacioppo was poised at the plate, going 1-for-2 with two walks and picking up three RBI. Sophomore Vanessa Garcia continued her hot streak knocking a double and driving home two runs on the game.
Sophomore Rochelle Roberts extended her hit streak to five games, picking up two hits and scoring two ULM runs.
The Warhawks put two on in the top of the first, including a bunt single from Roberts that extended her hit streak to five games, but ULM could not push a runner across.
The Mountaineers would lead off the bottom of the inning with a single to right center. Coyne answered back with her first strikeout of the day, but Appalachian State knocked a double to left field to take a 0-1 advantage through one inning.
A scoreless second inning was followed by the Warhawks flexing their offensive power for the first time on the day, scoring five runs on two outs. Roberts single to short with one out to give ULM a base runner. Roberts moved into scoring position after swiping her second bag in the game.
After a fly out that moved Roberts to third, Cacioppo drew the walk to put runners on the corners. Cacioppo advanced to second on a wild pitch as freshman Cheyanne Lyon reached on an error by Mountaineer's left fielder that cleared the bases, putting ULM up 2-1.
Junior Amye Barre drew a walk to put two on, and Garcia doubled to left to score Lyon (3-1 ULM).
Coyne added to her lead, singling to centerfield and picking up two RBI to push the Warhawk lead to 5-1 after three.
Redshirt senior Miyuki Navarrete led off the fourth with a bunt single to third. The Warhawks loaded the bases with back-to-back walks issued to Roberts and junior Faith Bohack. Cacioppo reached on a hit by pitch to bring home one, 6-1 ULM.
The Mountaineers used a fielder's choice to make an out at home to save a run, but Barre singled to short stop to score Bohack (7-1 ULM). Garcia grounded out for the second out, but picked up an RBI to push the ULM lead to 8-1.
Senior Molly Mackey led off the fifth inning reaching on an Appalachian State error in a pinch hit appearance. Navarrete singled down the left field line to put runners on the corners for the Warhawks with no outs. Roberts drew the walk to load the bases.
Bohack reached on a fielder's choice that saw Appalachian State turn a double play, making two outs at home to keep ULM off the board, but Cacioppo singled to center field to drive home two and secure ULM a 10-1 victory.
Game 2 (W, 6-5)
The Mountaineers jumped to an early four-run lead, keeping ULM scoreless through three innings, but the Warhawks battled back to take a 6-5 series winning decision to sweep the doubleheader slate.
The Warhawk offense was evenly spread with six different Warhawks picking up an RBI, and seven different players racking up the eight ULM hits. Roberts' lone hit of the game extended her hit streak to six games.
Senior Haylie Wilson got the start with ULM's relieving core combing for six innings of three-run work with a combined five strikeouts. Freshman Paige Porter picked up the win, moving to 7-1 on the season.
The freshman went 1.2 innings of relief, giving up one hit, one run and striking out a Mountaineer. Coyne picked up her first save on the season closing the seventh inning allowing single hit in the appearance.
The Mountaineers led off the first inning with a single up the middle. After executing a sacrifice bunt, Appalachian State would take a 0-1 lead with a single to center field.
Appalachian State would lead off the second inning with a single down the left field line, forcing ULM to make a pitching change and bring in sophomore Ashley Dumoulin. Dumoulin would pick up back-to-back outs, but the Mountaineers would use an infield single and an ULM error to put two runners in scoring position.
The Mountaineers would single to left field, scoring a run, but the Warhawks threw out the runner advancing to third to close the second inning trailing 0-2.
A one-out double started off the third inning for the Mountaineers. Appalachian State's Haley Stewart homered to right center field to take a 0-4 lead.
Roberts broke Vanessa Ciocatto's no-hit bid, leading off the fourth inning with a bunt single to extend her hit streak to six games. Bohack followed with an infield single.
Cacioppo's ground out moved both runners into scoring position, and Barre knocked a sacrifice fly to center field to score Roberts and cut the Appalachian State lead to 1-4.
Sophomore Sidney Coy led off the fifth with a double down the left field line, followed by a single to shallow centerfield from Mackey. Junior Kaitlyn Dupuis entered the game to pinch run for Mackey while Garcia stepped to the plate to pinch hit.
Coy was thrown out a third attempting to advance on a wild pitch as Dupuis moved to second. Garcia singled to second to advance Dupuis to third before swiping second to move into scoring position.
Navarrete loaded the bases with one out by drawing a walk. A fielder's choice from Roberts brought home Dupuis to cut the lead to 2-4.
The Mountaineers led off the bottom of the fifth with a double and put runners on the corners with a one-out walk, but the Warhawks turned two, making an out at home, to keep the game at 2-4 Appalachian State through five innings.
Cacioppo drew a leadoff walk and Barre followed with a hit by pitch to put two Warhawks on the bases to start the sixth. Lyon's bunt single to third base loaded the bags with no outs. Coy drew a bases-loaded walk to send home Cacioppo and cut the lead to 3-4.
Mackey smacked an RBI single to right field to lock the game at 4-all with the bases still loaded for the Warhawks. Appalachian State struck out senior Mackenzie Miller for the first out, but Navarrete's RBI fielder's choice brought home a run and gave ULM a 5-4 lead.
The Mountaineers would answer back in the bottom of the sixth when Katie Mathewson knocked a two-out, pinch hit home run to right center that locked the game at 5-all.
Bohack led off the seventh inning reaching on an Appalachian State error. Cacioppo doubled to put the Warhawks back on top with the definitive 6-5 score.
The Warhawks go for the series sweep in the finale on Sunday, March 8 at 12 p.m. CST.
For the latest on ULM softball, visit ULMWarhawks.com and follow the team on Twitter (@ULM_Softball) and Facebook (facebook.com/ULMSoftball).
