YOUNGSVILLE, La. – Senior Ana Hogan blasted her first home run of the season and the ULM Softball team posted five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to finish a commanding 10-4 win over Houston Baptist on the first day of the Mardi Gras Mambo on Friday, Feb. 21, at the Youngsville Sports Complex in Youngsville, La.
 
"This sets the tone for the weekend moving forward," head coach Molly Fichtner said. "It all comes down to when you score more runs than the other team, you win."
 
The Huskies (7-4) wasted little time getting on the board when the team scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Avery Drake advanced to first base on catcher's interference and Jasie Roberts hit a line drive up the middle to bring Drake home. Moments later, Heidi Jaquez brought Roberts home on another hit to the middle and Houston Baptist left the first inning with a 2-0 lead.
 
In the top of the third, sophomore Korie Kreps started the comeback that would give the Warhawks (4-7) a lead that they wouldn't lose.
 
Kreps singled to left field and junior Alysia Anderson got to first on a dropped pop fly. Senior Jessie Watts loaded the bases when she was hit by the pitch. Hogan hit a line drive up the middle that brought Kreps and Anderson home. Freshman Jacelyn Buck would finish the top of the inning out with a hit down the third base line that brought Watts home. ULM took a 3-2 lead.
 
In the top of the fourth, Kreps got to first base on a hit to left field and advanced to second on a throwing error. Senior Jayden Mount doubled to bring Kreps home and the Warhawks added another run to the score, 4-2.
 
In the top of the sixth, ULM blew the gates open with five runs that included a two-run homer. Sophomore Jessica Williams got on base with a walk and then stole to second. Three straight singles by sophomore Kennedy Page, Kreps and Anderson loaded the bases and brought Williams home.
 
Kreps and Anderson came home after Watts made it to second on an error. Hogan cleared the field with a bomb over the left field wall, her first home run of the season and seventh of her career. The Warhawks commanded a 9-2 lead.
 
"It's exciting for Ana to hit that home run because it's stepping on the gas pedal and keeping things going," Fichtner said.
 
The Huskies made things interesting in the bottom of the sixth when Katy Schaefer hit a two-run home run to cut Houston Baptist's deficit to 9-4.
 
ULM added the final run in the top of the seventh after Page doubled and brought Williams home from first. The Warhawks finished with 11 hits and won by a score of 10-4.
 
"We have to respect our opponents and play our game and that's what we're doing," Fichtner said. "We'll let the outcome be the outcome."
 
Kreps went 2-for-5 at the plate with three runs and one RBI. Anderson finished 2-for-5 with two runs while Watts went 1-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs. Hogan finished 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs. Mount and Buck both finished with one hit and one RBI apiece. Page had two hits and one RBI while Williams had two runs scored.
 
Freshman pitcher Kassidy Giddens (1-3) picked up her first win of the season. She pitched a complete game and gave up four runs, two earned, on six hits while striking out four batters and issuing two walks.
 
"It's Kassidy's first win as a Warhawk and they came out swinging against her," Fichtner said. "We threw her out there in the very first game of the season and I think she's finally getting the jitters out. She's throwing in games the way she does in practice and that's exactly what we want."
 
Jessica Patak (2-1) earned her first loss of the season for the Huskies and pitched 2 2/3 innings. She gave up three runs on five hits and struck out two batters with two walks. Lyndie Swanson pitched three innings and Elliott Estes pitched 1 1/3 inning.
 
ULM will compete in a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 22, against Abilene Christian at 5 p.m. and Incarnate Word at 7 p.m. Both games are part of day two at the Mardi Gras Mambo in Youngsville. Links to live stats can be found on the softball schedule page at ULMWarhawks.com.
 
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