MONROE, La. – ULM's softball team is back in familiar territory this week, as they host conference opponent Troy, in hopes of claiming their first Sun Belt series of the season. The Warhawks and Trojans are slated for a 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. double header on Saturday (Mar.17) and a 12 p.m. start on Sunday (Mar.18) at ULM's Softball Complex.
Leading the Warhawks is junior outfielder
Sydney McKay, whose .447 batting average puts her atop the conference standings as well. With the help of McKay, ULM boasts a .321 team average, as the only team in the Sun Belt batting better than .300.
McKay is joined on the hard-hitters list by seniors
Rochelle Roberts (.386) and
Hunter Hogan (.371), and sophomore
Jayden Mount (.367). ULM is the only team with four players on the top-performers list.
The Warhawks (11-9, 1-2) are facing Troy after a heart-breaking 8-9 extra inning loss to Appalachian State in game three of the series last weekend (Mar.11). ULM had built a three-run lead headed into the seventh inning, but the hot bats of App. put the Warhawks away in the seventh and eighth innings.
ULM has been plagued with difficulties on the mound, are only second to Georgia State for highest ERA in the conference at 4.49 through twenty games.
The Trojans (15-9, 1-2) are having contrasting issues to the Warhawks, as their stronghold comes from the mound. Troy is currently second among Sun Belt teams with a combined 2.35 ERA; junior Peyton Glover heads Troy's pitching unit, starting in eight contests and compiling a 5-2 record overall. The Trojans also have freshman Annie Willis, who through her 10 appearances has a conference best 1.45 ERA after striking out 43 in 48 innings pitched.
Troy has only a two-day recovery period after facing Southern Miss in mid-week double-header on Thursday (Mar.15). The Trojans defeated the Golden Eagles in game one, 8-5 but fell in game two, 5-6.
Troy opened Sun Belt play against Georgia Southern, who defeated the Trojans 2-1 in the series. Sophomore Trojan Katie Webb leads Troy at the plate, and went 3-3 in their game one, 6-3 win over the Eagles (Mar.9).
ULM and Troy will meet for the 38
th time this weekend, as the Trojans hold a 23-14 advantage in the series. The Warhawks claimed last year's series, 2-1 after defeating the Trojans, 3-1 and 2-1 in game one and two respectively.
Tied at 1-1 in the 9
th inning of game one, Mount connected on a 2-2 count for a two-run home-run that game the Warhawks the big win.
Fans are encouraged to follow along with the action on Twitter at @ULM_Softball. Box scores and post-game coverage will be available at ULMWarhawks.com shortly after competition has concluded for the day.
