TROY, Ala. – Anthony Herrera picked up his eighth save after three shutout innings and roped a late two-run double as ULM defeated Troy 6-2 on Saturday afternoon, evening the series.
Herrera's insurance knock to the left center field wall gave ULM a 5-2 lead going into the stretch. He allowed two hits on the mound and pitched a perfect ninth inning.
ULM (18-30, 8-15 SBC) put up a crooked number in the top of the fourth while taking a 3-1 lead in the process. Nathan Pugh's single was just high enough to evade a leaping second baseman, and Stockton doubled to the gap just past a diving right fielder. Cade Stone's RBI groundout gave ULM the lead, and Danny Springer followed with a double down the left field line as he slid in ahead of the tag.
Back-to-back singles with one out in the bottom of the first gave Troy (27-20, 12-11 SBC) an early 1-0 lead.
The second inning saw Jacob Stockton lead off with a first-pitch rocket just outside of the left field foul pole. He followed up moments later with a solo home run to straightaway left field, tying the game.
Stockton hustled for an eighth-inning, leadoff double, never slowing down as his base hit fell into center field and sliding in just ahead of the throw. ULM would strand two in scoring position, however.
ULM padded its lead in the ninth when Nathan Reynolds pounded a ground-rule double and came around to score on Pugh's two-bagger to left center.
Keller Bradford relieved starter Brayden Bouchey and needed just three pitches to get a fifth inning-ending double play. He threw 2 2/3 scoreless frames Friday night.
Bouchey (5-2) scattered five hits over 5 1/3 innings and gave up two runs.
Diamond Notes…
-The six Warhawk doubles were the team's most since May 10, 2015 at Little Rock.
-Seven of ULM's last eight home runs have come in tied or one-run games.
-Brayden Bouchey has won three of his last four starts. He threw just 10 pitches in the third and fourth innings.
-Anthony Herrera recorded the longest save of his career. His only other outings of three or more innings came in neutral-site contests this year against Arkansas (3 1/3) and Mississippi State (3).
-Jacob Stockton tied a career-high with two doubles. It was his first such occurrence since March 23, 2014 at Troy.
-Catcher Dalton Todd batted in the leadoff spot.
Up Next…
The Warhawks can take the series Sunday at 1 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).
