MONROE, La. – After a successful weekend at the Mardi Gras Mambo where the ULM Softball team was one game shy of completing a weekend sweep, the Warhawks are set to take on I-20 foe Louisiana Tech on Wednesday, Feb. 25. The first pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the ULM Softball Complex on ESPN+.
ULM (7-8) went 4-1 during the weekend in Youngsville and defeated Houston Baptist, 10-4, Abilene Christian in six innings, 8-0, Incarnate Word in five innings, 8-0, and Nicholls State, 6-1. The lone loss for the Warhawks came against Southeastern Louisiana, 3-1. ULM posted three five-run innings over the weekend and compiled its first four-game winning streak since March 2018.
Through Sunday's games, ULM ranks fourth in the Sun Belt Conference as a team in batting average at .289. The Warhawks have collected 111 hits, 15 doubles, five triples, three home runs, 55 RBIs and 63 runs scored. In the pitcher's circle, ULM ranks ninth in the SBC in team ERA at 3.76. The Warhawks have given up 62 runs, 50 earned, on 101 hits with 37 strikeouts and 40 walks.
ULM's 111 hits and five triples rank second in the Sun Belt in each category. During the Mardi Gras Mambo, the Warhawks posted a 0.90 team ERA, scored 33 runs and hit .348 as a team while limiting the opponent's batting average to .191.
ULM also houses the newly minted Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week, Korie Kreps. The sophomore Anacoco native has continued to be the Warhawks' leading hitter this season. Kreps went 11-for-22 at the plate in the last six games with eight runs, one double, a triple and five RBIs.
Since Feb. 19, junior Alysia Anderson has hit .353 with four runs scored. She has compiled six hits, one double, one RBI and stole three bases. Freshman Kelsey Giddens continues to impress, going 5-for-16 at the plate with two runs, one double, two RBIs and three stolen bases.
Senior Ana Hogan has stepped up to the plate recently for the team and hit her first home run of the season over the weekend. She hit .412 with two runs, two doubles and added eight RBIs to her totals.
Seniors Jayden Mount and Jessie Watts combined for great numbers over the weekend. The two tallied 12 hits, 10 runs, two doubles, 10 RBIs and two stolen bases. Sophomore Kennedy Page recently returned to the diamond and made her presence known. Page hit .400 in six games with four runs, two doubles, a RBI and gained a stolen base.
Junior pitcher Amber Coons (3-1) was one half inning away from throwing her first career no hitter this weekend. Coons made two appearances in the circle and pitched nine innings. She threw a complete shutout against Incarnate Word and only gave up one hit during the game while walking two batters. In her other appearance, Coons gave up an unearned run on two hits and struck out one batter while walking another.
Sophomore pitcher Murphy Williams (3-1) picked up two wins on the weekend and posted a 0.50 ERA. Williams threw two complete games with one shutout. Over 14 innings, she gave up one run on 10 hits and struck out six batters while issuing six walks.
Wednesday will mark the 105th time the Warhawks and Lady Techsters have matched up. Louisiana Tech (3-12) leads the series 68-36. The two teams last did battle in April 2019 in Ruston and saw the Lady Techsters take the win, 6-0. Both squads were set to match up on Feb. 11, but the game was cancelled due to weather.
Senior Zoe Hicks has been the leading hitter for Louisiana Tech this season. Hicks has hit .293 with three runs, three doubles and two RBIs. She is also tied with junior Kailey Anderson for a team-leading two stolen bases.
Freshman Jordyn Manning is currently leading the team in runs scored with six. The West Monroe native has hit .227 this season with one double, one home run and five RBIs. Senior Marilyn Rizzato currently leads the team with seven RBIs while three players are tied with two home runs apiece.
In the pitcher's circle, junior Bre Hernandez (2-5) has been the Lady Techsters' leading pitcher with a 4.84 ERA. She has thrown three complete games with one shut out over 35 1/3 innings pitched. Hernandez has given up 21 runs, 17 earned, on 34 hits while striking out 29 batters and issued 18 walks.
Links to live stats and video for Wednesday's matchup against the Lady Techsters can be found on the softball schedule page at ULMWarhawks.com.
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