CONWAY, Ark – The Warhawks are now 2-0 at the Central Arkansas Tournament in Conway after defeated Austin Peay State University 6-4 on Sunday (Feb.25). Senior Hogan Hunter finished with a game-high three hits.
 
Hogan was one of six Warhawks with hits in the win, Sydney McKay, Jayden Mount, Rochelle Roberts, Victoria Pederson, and Megan Shaw all contributed to the big win over Austin Peay.
 
"Today's win was a great team effort," said head coach Corey Lyons "Hunter Hogan came up clutch with some big hits which allowed us to stay in command even when we were behind."
 
Paige Murray earned the starting spot for the Warhawks, pitching four innings and giving up four runs on five hits, striking out five batters. Murray walked only two of the 21 batters she faced.
 
Both teams scored two runs a piece in the first inning, both runs scored by the Governors were unearned, after an early Warhawk error.
 
McKay found herself crossing the plate first for ULM, after reaching on a walk and then scoring on another walk, this time it was Lauren Crouch with the BB.
 
Hogan scored in the first as well, reaching on a single through the left side, the senior from Colwich, Kansas scored off the bat of junior Bailey Thibodeaux.
 
The following innings would so significantly less action, in fact, neither the Warhawks nor the Governors yielded a hit, nonetheless a run in the second, third, or fourth inning.
 
In the top of the fifth, Austin Peay would take a 4-2 lead over ULM on back-to-back hits, before Murray would be pulled off the mound.
 
Rachael Murphy would enter into the game for Murray, putting out the next two batters before striking out the last for the third and final out of the inning.
 
The Warhawks responded well to the offensive attack by the Governors, closing in on APSU's lead by scoring Mount off the bat of Crouch. Mount reached on a single to second base and advanced to third off a single by Hogan.
 
ULM started off the bottom of the fifth with Victoria Pederson in to pinch hit for the Warhawks. Pederson jumped into action with a single to second base and a stolen base.
 
Freshman Kori Jewell reached on an error by Austin Peay, scoring Pederson and tying the score at 4-4 with no outs for the Warhawks and big-hitter Shaw at the plate.
 
Junior Jaclyn Kresta is brought in to pinch run for Jewell; Kresta would go on to score the leading run after advancing on a single by Shaw and then scoring on a single by McKay.
 
Scoring the final run for ULM was Shaw, who scored on a double by Hogan, sent out to right center. Hogan's double was the only of its kind for the Warhawks.
 
Murphy, a transfer from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, earned the save for ULM after closing out the game, allowing no additional runs, no hits, and striking out four more Governors.
 
"Rachael Murphy did an outstanding job in the circle to give us a chance to win. She stepped up when her team needed her, and that's what makes her such a great player" Lyons said.
 
The Warhawks advance to 6-4 on the season overall and stay undefeated at the Central Arkansas Invitational (2-0). ULM's next home game is scheduled for Tuesday (Feb.27), when they host Alcorn State University.