ULM Warhawks

Troy, Ala. - The ULM Warhawks return to action this weekend with a key three-game Sun Belt Conference series at Troy. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday at Riddle-Pace Field.

Setting the Scene

The Warhawks have won six of their last eight games, including four of their last six games in Sun Belt play to remain in contention to qualify for the SBC Tournament. ULM dropped the first game of Friday's doubleheader to UT Arlington 10-2, but rebounded with an 8-0 win in the nightcap and a 6-3 win to take the series on Sunday. ULM sits one half game ahead of the Ragin' Cajuns for the 10th and final spot in the SBC Tournament field, but is within two-and-a-half games of five other teams.

Troy won two out of three games in last weekend's series against Georgia Southern to enter the weekend in eighth place in the SBC, but sit just one game back of Georgia Southern, the first place team in the East Division. The two division winners earn the top two seeds in the SBC Tournament. Troy lost its midweek game to Alabama, 7-3, on Wednesday.

Friday's game marks the 38th all-time meeting between the Warhawks and Trojans. Troy leads the series 26-11. The Trojans have won six straight games in the series, sweeping ULM in Monroe last year 8-1, 7-2 and 4-2. ULM last won a series vs. Troy in 2016, winning the final two games of the series in Troy 6-2 and 4-3 after dropping the series opener 5-3.

ULM head coach Michael Federico is in his second season with the Warhawks. He led the team to an 11-win improvement in his first season, as the Warhawks posted a 23-31 record in 2018. He is 45-56 overall as the head coach at ULM.

Troy head coach Mark Smartt is in his fourth season with the Trojans. Smartt is 130-96 with the Trojans, leading them to an NCAA Regional appearance last season. Smartt played on the 1987 and 1988 NCAA Division II National Championship teams at Troy.

Leading Off

Ty Barnes was named both Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week and Louisiana Sports Writers Association Pitcher of the Week after throwing a complete game shutout in game two of Friday's doubleheader vs. UT Arlington. Barnes scattered seven hits while walking one Maverick and striking out three. It was the first complete game shutout by a ULM pitcher since Alex Hermeling on Feb. 28, 2015, vs. Sam Houston State, and the first in SBC play since Shelby Aulds blanked Middle Tennessee on April 21, 2012.

Andrew Beesley continues to lead ULM in batting average, sitting at .354. Beesley ranks third in the Sun Belt Conference in batting average behind Appalachian State's Luke Drumheller (.366) and Coastal Carolina's Jake Wright (.359). Beesley is tied for third in the SBC in hits with 64, one behind co-leaders Ethan Wilson of South Alabama and Steven Curry of Georgia Southern. Beesley is tied for sixth in the SBC in stolen bases with 14, ranking second on the Warhawks behind Ryan Humeniuk (17).

Chad Bell put together a big week last week. Bell slashed .533/.611/1.000 at the plate last week, going 8-for-15 with a double, two home runs, eight RBIs, four runs scored, three walks and just two strikeouts. Bell is second in the SBC in home runs, two behind South Alabama's Ethan Wilson. Bell is also second in the conference in total bases with 114 and third in slugging percentage at .620.

Trey Jeans has moved into the top 10 in the SBC in ERA. Jeans is eighth in the conference with a 3.61 ERA after giving up two earned runs over five innings in game one of the doubleheader vs. UT Arlington on Friday. Jeans has given up five earned runs over his last four starts, dropping his ERA by 1.34 in that span. Jeans is also second in the SBC in opponent batting average at .205.

This weekend's series at Troy are the final three road games on the schedule for ULM in 2019. The Warhawks return to Monroe next week to host Northwestern State for their final midweek game on Tuesday before closing the regular season vs. the Ragin' Cajuns.