MOBILE, Ala. – A six-run fifth inning allowed South Alabama to pull away and deal ULM a rare Sunday loss, as the Warhawks fell 12-2 at Stanky Field.
The Jaguars (21-7, 12-0 SBC) struck first when Drew LaBounty's single scored a run with two outs in the bottom of the third.
USA's Danny Martinez was safe on a close double-play call that would have kept ULM within 1-0 after five innings. A run also scored on that sequence before Carter Perkins drove in two more with a single. Jared Barnes' three-run homer just past the leap of Nathan Pugh in left field increased the Jaguar lead to 7-0.
The Warhawks (10-18, 2-7 SBC) got on the board in the top of the seventh after three straight pinch-hitters opened the frame. Ross Moore singled through the left side and Kyle Schimpf drew a walk. Spencer Hemphill lined a two-out single to left field to drive the pair in.
A Matt Bolger RBI single and first-third double steal allowed the Jaguars to get the two Warhawk runs back and lead 10-2 in the bottom of the seventh.
Starting pitcher Brandon Bell took the loss after 4 2/3 innings.
Diamond Notes…
-ULM fell to 5-2 in Sunday games.
-Keller Bradford made his 18th appearance of the season. He was leading the NCAA in that category heading into the weekend.
-Nathan Pugh pushed his team lead in HBPs to eight. He was also fourth in the Sun Belt there.
-Ross Moore entered as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning and managed to pick up his second multi-hit game of the season (home opener versus Valparaiso).
-Spencer Hemphill caught a Jaguar stealing in the first inning for the second consecutive day.
Up Next…
ULM returns to Warhawk Field for a Tuesday 6 p.m. matchup against Jackson State.
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).
