ULM Warhawks

Monroe, La. - The ULM Warhawks close out the 2019 regular season with a three-game series against the Ragin' Cajuns at Warhawk Field. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday.

The Warhawks enter the series occupying the 10th and final spot in next week's Sun Belt Conference tournament, one-half game ahead of Arkansas State. The Warhawks have not qualified for the postseason tournament since 2014.

Thursday night's game is "Faith Night," with former ULM pitcher Randy Zeigler throwing out the first pitch and delivering a message during the postgame festivities, which includes a band performance.

Saturday's game is Senior Day, as 10 ULM seniors will be honored before first pitch. It is also Youth Day, with kids 18 and under receiving free admission to the game.

Setting The Scene

ULM lost two of its three games over the weekend at Troy. The Warhawks lost Friday's series opener 15-4, and also lost the first game of Saturday's doubleheader 10-4. ULM salvaged the weekend and the doubleheader on Saturday with a 14-6 victory. The win keeps the Warhawks in possession of the 10th and final spot in next week's Sun Belt Conference tournament, sitting one-half game ahead of Arkansas State. The Warhawks are 23-27 overall and 11-15 in the Sun Belt.

The Cajuns swept their weekend series from Georgia State, winning 2-0, 16-6 and 11-5. The Cajuns sit in eighth place in the Sun Belt Conference standings, and need just one win or one Arkansas State loss to clinch a spot in next week's Sun Belt Conference tournament. The Cajuns are 25-28 overall and 13-14 in the Sun Belt.

Thursday's series opener marks the 144th all-time meeting between the Warhawks and the Cajuns. The Cajuns swept last season's series in Lafayette, winning 4-3 in 10 innings, 9-6 and 7-2. ULM last defeated the Cajuns in 2012, sweeping the final series of the season in Lafayette.

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 46-58 overall as the head coach at ULM.

Ragin' Cajun head coach Tony Robichaux is in his 25th season with the Cajuns. Robichaux is the winningest coach in Cajun history with 911 victories. Robichaux has led the Cajuns to 12 NCAA Regional appearances, four Super Regional appearances and the 2000 College World Series.

Leading Off

Chad Bell continues to put a strong finish on his senior season. Bell is riding a career-high 16 game hitting streak, posting six hits over the weekend at Troy. After going 1-for-4 with an RBI on Friday night, he had a huge day Saturday, going 5-for-10 with two home runs in the second game of the doubleheader. Bell now ranks second in the Sun Belt Conference with 15 home runs, with seven of those coming during the current hitting streak. Bell is also second in the SBC with 126 total bases and is third with a .636 slugging percentage. Bell has 10 multi-hit games during his 16-game hitting streak.

Andrew Beesley enters the week with a chance to claim the SBC batting crown. Beesley leads the Warhawks with a .346 batting average, sitting in fifth place in the SBC, but is just four points behind SBC leader Steven Curry of Georgia Southern at .350. Beesley is fifth in the SBC with 66 hits and is tied for seventh with 14 stolen bases.

Masen Prososki is the second Warhawk with a double-digit hitting streak this season, hitting safely in his last 10 games. Prososki picked up four hits in the Troy series, posting his ninth multi-hit game of the season on Friday night with two hits, including a double and an RBI. He also picked up an RBI in Saturday's series finale.

Trent Tingelstad sits in the top 10 of the SBC in several categories. Tingelstad is tied for first with four triples with sitting in fourth in walks with 36. He is fifth in on base percentage at .454 and sixth in doubles with 15.

ULM has an opportunity to close the season with a winning record at Warhawk Field. The Warhawks are 12-11 at home this season. ULM has won two of its last three home series this season.