DALLAS – ULM scored the first five runs of the contest and held off No. 26 Dallas Baptist late to claim a 6-3 victory on Sunday afternoon at Horner Ballpark.
ULM (8-11) starting pitcher Brandon Bell shined on the bump as he notched a quality start, allowing just one run on six hits and two walks. The right-hander struck out three Patriots as he tied a career-best with seven innings of work.
The Warhawks got things going in the top of the first as Cade Stone drew a walk and Anthony Herrera followed with a single through the left side. After a Nathan Pugh sacrifice bunt, Spencer Hemphill drove in both Stone and Herrera with his two-RBI single up the middle to give the Warhawks the early 2-0 lead.
ULM extended the lead to five runs as the visitors struck for a trio of runs in the top half of the fourth inning. With one out in the frame, ULM picked up three straight infield hits as Danny Springer had a bunt single to the pitcher, Cade Stone singled to first and Josh Faciane had a bunt single that stayed fair and hit the bag at first base. Faciane's bunt single allowed Springer to score to put ULM ahead 3-0. With two outs and the bases loaded, Pugh singled to center field and picked up two RBI as Stone and Faciane were able to race home to push the lead to 5-0.
After being held scoreless through the first three innings, the Patriots (13-6) broke through with a single run in the home half of the fourth. Daniel Sweet drove home Austin Listi with a two-out RBI single through the left side.
The Warhawks pushed the lead back to five runs, at 6-1, as on a delayed double steal in the seventh. Pugh was able to race home and beat a throw to the plate after Hemphill got caught in a rundown. Later in the frame the Warhawks loaded the bases but were unable to manufacture any more runs.
Dallas Baptist trimmed the deficit to three runs as the Patriots scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth. Darick Hall delivered a RBI groundout that plated Justin Wall and Austin Listi crossed home plate on a RBI single to right center by Trooper Reynolds.
Anthony Herrera closed the book on the Patriots in the ninth as the junior recorded the final three outs of the contest.
Dallas Baptist starter Dalton Higgins was tagged with the loss after ULM scored five runs (three earned) on eight hits and one walk during his 3.2 innings.
Diamond Notes…
- Sunday's win over No. 26 Dallas Baptist was the first win over a ranked foe for the Warhawks since ULM took down No. 25 Florida Atlantic, 8-4, on April 7, 2013. The win over Dallas Baptist also snapped the Patriots four-game winning streak in the series. Dallas Baptist now leads the all-time series, 4-3.
- Brandon Bell earned his first win of 2016 after allowing just one run in seven innings of work. With the victory on Sunday, Bell now has five career wins.
- Anthony Herrera earned save number three of 2016 and he now has nine career saves. With nine saves, he is now tied for seventh in school history (9, Derek Ward, 2008-10).
- Nathan Pugh tied a career high as he tallied a pair of doubles on Sunday. Pugh finished 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI and one run scored.
- Spencer Hemphill recorded two hits and two RBI in the win over Dallas Baptist.
- Eight of ULM's nine starters recorded a hit in Sunday's game.
Up Next…
ULM will host Louisiana Tech on Tuesday night with first pitch at Warhawk Field is slated for 6 p.m. During Tuesday's game, the Warhawks and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame will honor soon-to-be inductee Ben Sheets.
For updates on the baseball squad, be sure to follow the team on Twitter @ULM_BSB, Facebook (www.facebook.com/ULMBaseball) and Instagram (@ULM_BSB).
