MONROE, La. – After run-ruling its fourth team of the season on Wednesday against Louisiana Tech, the ULM Softball team will travel to Conway, Ark., for the Adam Brown Memorial Shamrock Classic hosted by Central Arkansas that runs Friday, Feb. 28, through Sunday, March 1, at the Jeff Farris Softball Complex.
The Warhawks (8-8) will play four teams over the weekend. A Friday doubleheader sees ULM matchup with Belmont and another rematch against Stephen F. Austin. The Warhawks will take on the host Bears on Saturday before wrapping things up on Sunday against Northern Iowa.
Through Wednesday's games, ULM ranks third in the Sun Belt Conference as a team in batting average at .294. The Warhawks have compiled 120 hits, 16 doubles, five triples, four home runs, 67 RBIs and 75 runs scored. In the pitcher's circle, ULM ranks eighth in the SBC in team ERA at 3.71. The Warhawks have given up 66 runs, 52 earned, on 109 hits with 39 strikeouts and 40 walks.
ULM's 120 hits ranks first in the Sun Belt. The Warhawks are ranked second in triples (five), third in runs scored (75) and tied for third in RBIs (67).
Sophomore Korie Kreps continues to lead ULM in batting average and runs. Kreps is hitting .510 with 17 runs scored. Seniors Ana Hogan and Jessie Watts are tied with two home runs apiece while Hogan leads the team with 17 RBIs. Junior Alysia Anderson, freshman Kelsey Giddens and Kreps are all tied with six stolen bases each.
ULM's first matchup will be at 2 p.m. on Friday against Belmont University. This will mark the second time the Warhawks and the Bruins (1-7) have matched up. Belmont narrowly won the first match up at the 2016 edition of the Adam Brown Memorial Shamrock Classic, 5-4.
Junior Ellison Ollinger leads the Bruins with a .500 batting average while junior Chyenne Cavanaugh has a team-leading five runs scored. Sophomore Audrey Lyle leads with four RBIs and one home run. Senior Brooklin Lee leads the team with four stolen bases.
The second game of the Friday doubleheader will pit ULM against Stephen F. Austin for the 97th time at 4:15 p.m. The Lady Jacks (10-4) lead the series 50-45. The Warhawks hosted their old Southland Conference foe earlier in the season at the Mardi Gras Invitational. SFA won both matchups 8-2 and 12-0.
Freshman Shaylon Govan leads the Lady Jacks in three key categories. Govan is hitting .459 with five home runs and 20 RBIs. Sophomore Alex Hedspeth commands a presence as well with 14 runs scored and 12 stolen bases.
Central Arkansas will host ULM in the 12th all-time meeting between the two programs on Saturday at 5:45 p.m. The Warhawks hosted the Bears (11-6) in March 2019 and lost the matchup, 7-3. Central Arkansas leads the series 7-4.
Junior Reagan Sperling leads the way with a .459 batting average while three players are tied with 14 runs apiece. Senior Kaylyn Shepherd leads the team with three home runs and 17 RBIs while senior Kayla Crutchmer has 16 stolen bases.
ULM will wrap up the weekend at 9 a.m. Sunday against Northern Iowa for the eighth time in history. The Panthers (4-7) lead the series, 6-1. The two teams haven't met in over a decade with the last meeting happening in 2007. They met twice in Fayetteville, Ark., and UNI won both games 2-1 and 6-3.
Sophomore Hannah Kelley leads the way, hitting .400 with 10 RBIs. Senior Sammey Bunch cracks the ball as well with 12 runs scored and five home runs. Five players currently have one stolen base apiece.
Links to live stats for the Adam Brown Memorial Shamrock Classic can be found of the softball schedule page at ULMWarhawks.com.
Stay up to date with all things Warhawk Softball on Facebook and Twitter at @ULM_Softball.
