MONROE, La. -- ULM scored 10 runs on 13 hits en route to a 10-5 win over Appalachian State on Thursday night at Warhawk Field.
After the two teams traded zeros in the first and second, the Warhawks (9-12, 1-3 Sun Belt) struck first as they plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. Nathan Reynolds led off the inning with a double down the left field line and Cade Stone followed with a double of his own to bring in the game's first run. Later in the inning Stone scored on a RBI single by Nathan Pugh.
Appalachian State (4-18, 0-7 SBC scored a single run in the fourth to trim the deficit to one. Matt Vernon scored via an error at first base.
ULM responded with a four-run fourth inning. Jacob Stockton scored on a sacrifice fly by Josh Faciane and Cade Stone connected on a three-run homer to push the advantage to five runs at 6-1.
Two innings later the Warhawks again struck for four runs to extend the lead to nine runs (10-1). Three different ULM batters recorded an RBI in the inning (Cade Stone, Anthony Herrera and Nathan Pugh) and the fourth run came in thanks to a throwing error to cap the four-run frame.
The Mountaineers scored a trio of runs in the seventh and one more in the ninth to set the final tally at 10-5.
Chris Hunt (2-2) earned the win after pitching six complete innings and allowed two earned runs (four total) on nine hits and one walk. He set a new career-best with nine punchouts on Thursday night.
Breydan Gorham (1-3) was tagged with the loss after allowing 10 runs (nine earned) on 12 hits and two walks in 5.2 innings of work.
Cade Stone paced the Warhawk offense as he tallied three hits, five RBI and three runs.
Diamond Notes…
- Thursday's game marked the first meeting between ULM and Appalachian State in Monroe.
- With ULM's victory, the all-time series is now tied at 2-2.
- ULM tallied 10 or more runs for the fifth time this season and the Warhawks are now 5-0 when they score 10 or more runs.
- Cade Stone recorded his third multi-RBI contest of the season as he notched a career best five RBI against the Mountaineers. Stone's five RBI game was highlighted by a three-run home run (his second HR of the season).
- Five different Warhawks tallied a multi-hit effort against the Mountaineers. Cade Stone had three hits while Nathan Pugh, Cody Stone, Josh Faciane and Nathan Reynolds all had two hits.
- Four Warhawks had multi-run games (Cade Stone, three; Jacob Stockton, two; Cody Stone, two; Nathan Reynolds, two).
- Seven of ULM's nine starters recorded at least one hit in the game.
Up Next…
ULM and Appalachian State will meet in game two of the weekend series on Friday night at 6 p.m.
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).
