Box Score: ULM 10, McNeese State 7

LAKE CHARLES, La. – Chad Bell went 3-for-5, including two triples, and scored three runs while Brendan Jordan delivered the game-winning hit with his two-run single in the sixth inning as ULM rallied from a 6-2 deficit for a 10-7 victory over McNeese State Tuesday (May 15) in its final non-conference game of the 2018 season. The Warhawk bullpen also produced, as six relievers combined to allow only one run and three hits over the final 6.2 innings.
 
"Chad Bell doesn't run exceptionally well, but he really squared up some balls tonight," ULM head coach Mike Federico said. "He blasted some balls into the gaps. The sky was a little funny early in the game, so I'm not sure the center fielder saw one of those balls because it was laced so hard.
 
"Unfortunately, we got behind the eightball after the first three innings, but the bullpen executed some innings tonight. Coach (Grayson) Crawford had some guys ready. He and I were on the same page because we wanted to get a number of pitchers out there, especially with the big weekend ahead. Some of those guys hadn't been out there in a while."
 
One minute prior to the opening pitch, the start of the game was delayed for 30 minutes by lightning.
 
ULM jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Chad Bell hit a two-out triple to right-center field off McNeese left-hander Bryan King, and Will Daniels followed with an RBI single through the left side.
 
With one away in the bottom of the first inning, McNeese tied the score at 1-1 on Reid Bourque's solo home run to right field off ULM right-hander Cole Hendrix.
 
The Warhawks regained the lead at 2-1 in the top of the second as Pierce Khan reached on a lead-off walk and scored with two outs on an RBI single through the right side by Turner Francis.
 
McNeese answered with three runs on five hits in the bottom of the second inning to take a 4-2 lead as Joe Provenzano came through with a two-out RBI single to center, Bourque scored on a wild pitch and Dustin Duhon deposited another two-out RBI single to center.
 
With one out in the bottom of the third, the Cowboys extended their lead to 6-2 on Shane Selman's two-run homer to left field off ULM reliever Stephen Morrison.
 
ULM cut its deficit to 6-4 in the top of the fourth as Joey Jordan, who reached on a fielder's choice, advanced to second and third on wild pitches then scored on a throwing error by the catcher, and Jacob Charron followed with his first home run of the season, a solo blast to left field, off reliever Tyler Wesley.
 
"It was fun to see Jacob Charron run one out of the ballpark tonight because he works extremely hard," Federico said. "It's difficult to get at-bats when you don't play consistently, so it's hard to get into a rhythm at the plate. He also caught exceptionally well tonight and framed some balls for our pitching staff. Jacob is a blessing to have on our roster, and I'm very proud of his performance."
 
Bell led off the top of the fifth with a triple – his second of the game – to center field and scored three batters later as Evian Benjamin perfectly executed the safety-squeeze bunt to pull the Warhawks to within one run at 6-5.
 
With two on and one out in the top of the sixth, Bell collected his third hit of the game, an RBI single to left-center field, scoring Francis from second base to tie the score at 6-6. Zach Rider became McNeese's third pitcher of the night and on his third pitch hit Daniels to load the bases. Brendan Jordan followed with a two-run single to left as ULM took the lead for good at 8-6.
 
After Kolton Childress walked McNeese's lead-off hitter in the bottom of the sixth inning, the game was delayed by lightning for 34 minutes. When action resumed, Kyle Backofen replaced Childress on the mound for the Warhawks. Backofen retired two batters before giving way to Robert Scott Foust, who issued a two-out walk. With runners at first and second and two outs, Duhon blooped an RBI single to right field as the Cowboys pulled to within 8-7.
 
ULM scored two unearned runs off Austin Briggs in the top of the seventh to build a 10-7 lead. Joey Jordan reached after being hit by pitch to lead off the inning and scored from first when McNeese's pitcher and first baseman committed errors on Charron's sacrifice-bunt attempt. Two batters later, Charron scored on Johnny DeLaCruz's sacrifice fly to center.
 
"Offensively, we just pounded out some things," Federico said. "We put some pressure on their defense, and they ended up committing three costly errors. We capitalized on those moments, especially with some situational hitting."
 
Foust pitched around a lead-off walk in the bottom of the seventh, thanks to a 4-6-3 double play and a flyout to center.
 
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Miles Dunn worked around a two-out double by Provenzano, who became McNeese's all-time hits leader (248 career hits) in his final at-bat at Joe Miller Ballpark.
 
Cole Gray pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn his first career save. Gray allowed one hit and recorded two strikeouts.
 
Childress (1-1) picked up the win in relief, surrendering one run on no hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
 
Wesley (3-5) took the loss for McNeese after allowing six runs on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
 
ULM concludes its Sun Belt regular-season schedule with a three-game series at West Division-leading ULL (30-23, 15-12 SBC): Thursday, May 17 at 6 p.m.; Friday, May 18 at 6 p.m. and Saturday, May 19 at 3 p.m.
 
With a 10-17 league record, the Warhawks stand ninth overall in the Sun Belt standings (Top 10 teams qualify for the postseason tournament). ULM is seeking to secure its first Sun Belt Championship (postseason tournament) appearance since 2014.