Pensacola, Fla. – A ninth inning run pushed ULM to one victory, while an early power surge sent the Warhawks to their second win of the day on Saturday at the Cox Diamond Invitational at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Ryan Humeniuk scored on a fielder's choice in the top of the ninth in the first game of the day, giving ULM (5-5) a 4-3 win over Western Kentucky. In the night cap, after North Florida scored two runs in the top of the first, Chad Bell, Cameron Horton and Andrew Beesley hit back-to-back-to-back home runs to give the Warhawks a 4-2 lead on their way to an 7-4 victory over the Ospreys.
Against Western Kentucky, ULM built a 3-0 lead in the fifth inning. A pair of RBI groundouts, one by Horton and the other by Beesley, scored Trent Tingelstad and Bell respectively to give ULM a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning. In the fifth, Braedon Barrett opened the frame with a bunt single and advanced to third on a throwing error by the pitcher. Barrett then scored on a passed ball for the 3-0 lead.
Western Kentucky started its rally in the sixth inning. Davis Sims hit a two-out double to center, scoring Jake Sanford to pull the Hilltoppers within 3-1. Then in the eighth inning, Sanford hit a two-out, two-run home run to left to tie the game at 3.
In the top of the ninth, Humeniuk was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches. After Tingelstad and Bell walked, pinch hitter Masen Prososki grounded into a fielder's choice, allowing Humeniuk to score the go-ahead run. Brock Figueroa (1-0) worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning to pick up the win in relief. Figueroa tossed 1.1 innings, giving up no runs, one hit and striking out one.
Trey Jeans took a no-decision in his start, throwing five scoreless innings with three hits, two walks and six strikeouts.
ULM mustered just four hits in the game. Bell hit a double and walked three times to pace the Warhawks.
Against North Florida, the Ospreys jumped on the board in the top of the first with Jay Prather's RBI double to right, scoring Tanner Murphy. David Maberry followed with a double to right center to score Prather for the 2-0 lead.
ULM answered right away in the bottom of the first. Humeniuk led off with a single to right. After Tingelstad struck out, Bell hit a two-run homer to right to tie the game at 2. Horton and Beesley followed with solo blasts of their own to put the Warhawks up 4-2.
The Warhawks added three more runs in the third. Beesley scored on a wild pitch, and Nathan Miranda followed with an RBI double to left, scoring Braedon Barrett and Colin Gordon for a 7-2 lead.
Horton and Beesley each had two hits for ULM, while Bell and Miranda drove in two runs each. Kayleb Sanderson (2-0) picked up the win, throwing 4.0 innings with two earned runs on four hits with four walks and four strikeouts.
The Warhawks continue the road swing on Tuesday and Wednesday when they visit Southeastern Louisiana. First pitch Tuesday is at 6 p.m. in Hammond. Links to live video and stats are available at ULMWarhawks.com.
