MONROE, La. – Alex Hermeling logged a quality start on the mound and eight of the starting nine Warhawk batters tallied a hit as ULM picked up a 4-2 win over Troy on Friday night at Warhawk Field.
After the two teams traded zeros in the first two innings, the Warhawks broke through with their first run as Justin Stawychny reached on an error and Keelin Rasch scored to put ULM ahead, 1-0, in the bottom of the third. Rasch was one of two hits in the frame as he singled and was followed by a double by Kodie Tidwell to put two runners in scoring position. ULM was only able to get one run as batter interference and a fly out ended the frame.
An inning later the Warhawks were able to push their lead to 3-0 thanks to RBI by Anthony Herrera and Rasch. Nathan Pugh led off the inning with a single to right field and was able to move 180 feet thanks to a sac bunt by Jacob Stockton and a single through the left side by Dalton Todd. Herrera followed as he tallied a sac bunt RBI, allowing Pugh to score. Rasch then notchedp his third triple of the season and second of the week as he drove home Todd to push the ULM advantage to three runs (3-0).
ULM tacked on another run in the bottom of the fifth to extend its lead to 4-0. With one out in the frame, Danny Springer drew a walk and Spencer Hemphill tallied a single through the left side to give ULM two on. Later in the inning, Jacob Stockton delivered a RBI single to right center as Springer raced home.
In the top of the eighth inning, Troy trimmed the Warhawk lead as Logan Hill tallied a RBI groundout and Nick Masonia delivered a RBI single to right field to bring the visitors to within two runs (4-2).
In the ninth, the Trojans put a pair on with one out but ULM turned its third double play of the night to end Friday's contest.
Hermeling (4-6) logged his fifth quality start of the season as he allowed two runs on nine hits and four walks with three strikeouts in eight innings of work. Herrera closed out the game, tossing a scoreless ninth, as he notched his fifth save of the 2015 season.
Rasch led the Warhawks with two hits (one triple) with one RBI and one run scored, while Hemphill added two hits in the series-opening win.
Trojan starter Grant Bennett was tagged with the loss and he dips to 8-3 on the season. In eight innings of work, the right-hander allowed four runs on 10 hits and three walks while striking out two. Reid Long led ULM at the plate, going 3-for-5 with one run scored.
ULM and Troy will continue its three-game Sun Belt Conference series tomorrow night at 6 p.m.
For updates throughout the season on the baseball squad, be sure to follow the team on Twitter @ULM_BSB, Facebook (www.facebook.com/ULMBaseball) and Instagram (@ULM_BSB).
