YOUNGSVILLE, La. – The ULM Warhawk Softball team extended its winning streak to four with a 6-1 win over Nicholls State on the last day of the Mardi Gras Mambo at the Youngsville Sports Complex on Sunday, Feb. 23. During the second game of the day, the Warhawks (7-8) fell to Southeastern Louisiana, 3-1.
"It was an exciting weekend," head coach Molly Fichtner said. "I think we saw a lot of things that are exciting for the future offensively. Defensively, we had a pitching staff that was absolutely on fire this weekend."
Game 1: ULM 6, Nicholls State 1
ULM had an opportunity to strike first in the bottom of the third when sophomore Kennedy Page doubled to right field. Sophomore Korie Kreps grounded out to advance Page to third, but the Colonels (6-11) stranded Page on base to keep the game scoreless.
The Warhawks commanded a large lead in the bottom of the fourth when ULM scored its third five-run inning of the weekend. Senior Ana Hogan singled down the left field line to get on first. Junior Charlie Names entered to pinch run for Hogan and stole to second. Senior Jessie Watts singled on a bunt to get Names to third while Watts stole to second. Senior Jayden Mount doubled to left center to bring Names and Watts home.
Freshman Jacelyn Buck singled on the next at bat and allowed Mount to cross home plate. Junior Alysia Anderson singled and stole to second. Page walked and both girls advanced on a passed ball. Kreps singled and advanced on the throw to bring Anderson and Page home. The Warhawks compiled seven hits during the inning and left the fourth with a 5-0 lead.
"I'd like to see our runs scattered more throughout the game instead of just one big inning, but when you outscore the opponent, you win," Fichtner said. "So, we'll take it."
ULM attempted to add on to their lead in the bottom of the fifth when they loaded the bases. Watts and Mount got on base with singles and Buck was walked. Junior Rylee Lara came in to pinch hit, but grounded out into a double play to end the inning.
In the top of the sixth, Nicholls put one on the board when Mallery Marino came home on a Yasmeen Williams single. The Warhawks forced the last out with runners on first and third to keep the lead, 5-1.
Kreps doubled to left field in the bottom of the sixth and freshman Kelsey Giddens singled to bring Kreps home from second. ULM took the 6-1 lead and the win.
Kreps, Giddens and Watts all went 2-for-4 at the plate and accounted for three runs and two RBIs total. Mount went 2-for-3 with one run and two RBIs. Hogan, Buck, Anderson and Page accounted for five hits, two runs and a RBI.
Sophomore pitcher Murphy Williams (3-1) got the start and picked up her third win of the season while pitching a complete game. She gave up one run on give hits while striking out two batters and issuing three walks.
Emily Danehower (4-3) started for the Colonels and took the loss in four innings pitched. She gave up five runs on eight hits and struck out two batters with two walks. Taryn Westbrook entered and pitched two innings. She gave up one run on five hits and struck out three batters with one walk.
Game 2: Southeastern Louisiana 3, ULM 1
The Warhawks wasted little time to get on the board. In the top of the first, Kreps singled and advanced to second on an error. Giddens executed a sac bunt to get Kreps to third. Watts singled on a line drive to bring Kreps home and ULM took a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second, Karlee Kraft doubled to right field and Ali McCoy singled to right field as well moments later. During the McCoy single, Kraft rounded home from second to tie the game up at one. McCoy scored later in the inning on a sac fly by Cameron Goodman. Southeastern (12-3) held a 2-1 lead.
The Lady Lions added another run in the bottom of the third when Madison Blackford doubled to left center to bring Lindsey Rizzo home from first. Southeastern took a 3-1 lead. The Warhawks couldn't mount a comeback and the Lady Lions held on for the win.
Kreps went 3-for-3 at the plate with one run while Watts, Williams and Anderson all gained a hit during the game.
Freshman pitcher Kassidy Giddens (1-4) suffered the loss. She pitched two innings and gave up two runs, one earned, on two hits and walked one batter. Junior pitcher Amber Coons pitched four innings and gave up one run on two hits while striking out one batter and issuing one walk.
Heather Zumo (2-1) gained her second win of the season for Southeastern in 4 1/3 innings. She gave up one run on five hits and struck out two batters with one walk. MC Comeaux picked up her first save of the season in 2 2/3 innings. She gave up one hit and struck out two batters.
"When you look at it, a loss is a learning opportunity," Fichtner said. "We're excited to get back to it and optimistic moving forward. Yes, it was only one loss, but it's an opportunity to get better and we'll look at it in a positive way."
ULM will return home on Wednesday, Feb. 26, for a midweek matchup against I-20 rival Louisiana Tech at the ULM Softball Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. Links to live stats and video can be found on the softball schedule page at ULMWarhawks.com.
Stay up to date with all things Warhawk Softball on Facebook and Twitter at @ULM_Softball.
