SAN MARCOS, Texas – The ULM softball team closed the door on another Sun Belt series today (April 22) in San Marcos; the Warhawks put up a valiant effort against No.23 Texas State in game two of the series, falling only 1-0. ULM managed a 3-1 lead in game two but fell 4-3 off a three-run home run in the 5^th inning.
 
The Warhawks have had a rough week, after making a day-trip to Oxford, Mississippi to face Ole Miss, they loaded up the busses only two days later and made the trek in the opposite direction- to meet Sun Belt leading No. 23 Texas State on the road in San Marcos.
 
"I'm proud of the way we competed today," said head softball coach Corey Lyon. "Playing two, one-run games against the best team in the conference and a top 25 team on the road says a lot about the toughness and heart of our kids."
 
Game one of the double-header was nothing short of a defensive showdown, Texas State walked away with eight hits and only one run to show for it- while ULM managed only one hit in the contest.
 
That one hit would come in the fourth inning, off the bat of Jayden Mount, who for the second game in a row, led her team at the plate. ULM left only three on base over the stretch of the seven innings.
 
Texas State's Ariel Ortiz started the second inning with a double to left-center. A sacrifice bunt by teammate Tara Oltmann would advance Ortiz to third, and junior Bailee Carter would put the ball in play, giving Ortiz an opportunity to score.
 
The Bobcats lone run was all it took to defeat the Warhawks as ULM fell 1-0, dropping the Sun Belt series to Texas State.
 
Game two began with a different tone, as an aggressive push by the Hawks in the third and fourth inning gave them a 3-1 advantage headed into the fifth.
 
Mount kicked off the scoring spree with a single to center field, senior Cheyanne Lyon followed with a double to left center- sending Mount to third.
 
Senior Rochelle Roberts proved her ability to step up for her team when she sent a sacrifice fly to left-field, scoring Mount on the play.
 
After holding the Bobcats scoreless in the bottom of the third, the Warhawks returned in the fourth- looking to take the lead from Texas State.
 
Victoria Pederson led off the inning with a single, third baseman Megan Shaw came in behind her with a single of her own.
 
Back at the top of the order, junior Sydney McKay connected on a ball to right-field, but Pederson, as fast as she is, could not beat the throw on her score attempt and was out at home.
 
Now with runners on second and third, and one out, Mount would load the bases with a walk. Only two batters later, would Roberts step up again- this time, sending it to center-field and scoring both McKay and Shaw.
 
Unfortunately, the Warhawks two-run lead would only hold for one more inning, as Texas State placed two on base before Hailey MacKay homered to left-field for a three-run RBI, the 4-3 lead, and eventually, the win.
 
ULM will be back in action with a packed week at home at the ULM Softball Complex. The Warhawks host the University of Arkansas Pine-Bluff on Tuesday in a double-header, followed by a double-header against Southland member Lamar on Wednesday.