Natchitoches, La. - The ULM Warhawks play their first mid-week game of the season on Tuesday, visiting Northwestern State at Brown-Stroud Field.
Game Notes
The game marks the start of a six-game road swing for ULM (3-3). Tuesday is the first meeting between the Warhawks and Demons in 2019. The Warhawks have met the Demons more than any other rival in program history, with Tuesday's game marking the 223rd meeting between the teams. The Demons have a slight edge in the series, 112-110. For comparison, ULM's next longest played rivalry is with McNeese State at 190 meetings. Louisiana Tech is third at 180 games.
In the series opening win over SIUE on Sunday afternoon, ULM claimed the lead with a four-run third inning, scoring all four runs with two outs in the inning. The Warhawks added three runs in the seventh and put the game away with a four-run eighth.
Andrew Beesley finished 4-for-5 at the plate with 5 RBIs in the win.
Jacob Barton threw 5.1 innings in the start, giving up two runs, one earned, on three hits with three walks and six strikeouts to pick up his first career win at ULM.
In Sunday's doubleheader nightcap, the Warhawks struggled with free passes, issuing eight walks while hitting four more batters. SIUE broke the game open with a six-run ninth inning to eliminate any ULM hope of a rally.
Ryan Humeniuk was the only Warhawk with two hits in the loss.
On Monday,
Kayleb Sanderson was strong on the mound. Sanderson gave up just one run on four hits with a walk and seven strikeouts over seven innings in a 4-1 ULM win. Again, the Warhawks converted with two outs to make the Cougars pay, scoring all three runs in the sixth inning with two outs to take the lead for good.
Nathan Miranda hit the go-ahead RBI double, while
Colin Gordon had two hits.
Through Sunday's games, ULM ranks fourth in the Sun Belt Conference as a team in batting average at .269. ULM has 45 hits, seven doubles, one triple and three home runs with 33 runs scored. The Warhawks have also compiled 44 strikeouts to 29 walks. On the mound, ULM ranks eighth in the SBC in team ERA at 4.81. The Warhawks have given up 31 runs, 23 earned, on 42 hits with 45 strikeouts and 27 walks.
The Warhawks will hand the ball to junior left-handed pitcher
Cole Martin for his first start at ULM. Martin tossed two scoreless innings in relief against Army on Feb. 17, giving up just one hit with two strikeouts and a walk. Northwestern State plans to counter with senior right-handed pitcher Cullen McDonald. Tuesday's game will mark Martin's 2019 debut after going 3-0 with a 3.58 ERA with 32 strikeouts and eight walks in 2018.
NSU head coach Bobby Barbier is in his third season with the Demons. The NSU alumnus led the Demons to a Southland Conference tournament championship and NCAA Regional appearance in 2018. Prior to taking over as head coach, Barbier served as pitching coach for the Demons. NSU opened the season dropping two out of three games at Houston before splitting a doubleheader with Southern on Sunday in a series that was adjusted due to the weather. Tuesday's game is the first of three scheduled meetings between the Warhawks and the Demons, with NSU visiting Monroe April 9 and May 14.
Links to live audio and stats are available at ULMWarhawks.com.
