MONROE, La. – The ULM Warhawks softball team concluded the Mardi Gras Invitational by splitting their two games against Southern and Stephen F. Austin on Saturday, Feb. 8, at the ULM Softball Complex. Sophomore pitcher Murphy Williams threw a complete game shut out to top the Jaguars, 5-0. The Warhawks (2-2) stumbled in their second game and lost to the Ladyjacks 12-0 in five innings.
 
"When you beat a team in a tournament, it's really hard to come back and beat them the second day," head coach Molly Fichtner said. "We came out and took care of business and Murphy threw lights out today."
 
Game 1: ULM 5, Southern 0
Six ULM batters recorded hits during the game while Jessie Watts clubbed her first home run of the year. Southern (0-4) only recorded two hits during the game, both during the fourth inning.
 
Both Korie Kreps and Jayden Mount walked to start the game and both stole to second with Kreps coming around to score. Mount was left on base as the Warhawks took a quick 1-0 lead.
 
In the second inning, Jessica Williams reached second base on a Jaguar error in center field. On the next play, Jacelyn Buck hit a double that allowed Williams to round into home. Kreps followed that up with a line-drive double to center field that brought Buck home. ULM ended the inning with a 3-0 lead.
 
Watts gave the Warhawks another run when she blasted a home run over the right center wall in the third inning. ULM kept the momentum throughout the game when it added one more run in the fifth and sealed the game. The Warhawks took down the Jaguars 5-0.
 
Kreps ended the game with a double, RBI and three walks. Watts went 1-for-3 at the plate with a home run and two RBIs. Buck went 1-for-3 with one RBI.
 
Murphy Williams (1-0) picked up her first win of the season in the complete game shutout, striking out four batters. Kaitlyn Donaldson (0-2) picked up her second loss of the season for the Jaguars. Southern also ended the game with four errors.
 
Game 2: Stephen F. Austin 12, ULM 0 (5 Innings)
The Warhawks struggled against senior pitcher Ashley Kriesel (2-0) who picked up her second win of the year for Stephen F. Austin (4-0). Kriesel pitched four innings and struck out seven batters. A single from Buck in the third inning broke up her bid for a second straight no-hitter.
 
Freshman pitcher Reagan Chism entered in the fifth inning for the Ladyjacks. Alysia Anderson was able to hit a line drive down the third base line for a single to give the Warhawks their second hit of the game.
 
ULM struggled at the plate and in the field. Offensively, four players managed to make it to first base on walks. Buck and Anderson were the only players with a hit. Defensively, the woes continued as the Warhawks committed four errors during the game.
 
Karly Taranto (0-1) got the start on the mound for ULM and pitched one inning before being relieved by Amber Coons. Murphy Williams took over for Coons in the top of the fifth inning and finished the game out. Taranto took her first loss of the season.
 
"We have Monday to practice and we're right back to it on Tuesday and Wednesday," Fichtner said. "We're excited to play our I-20 rivals."
 
The Warhawks will travel to Ruston on Tuesday, Feb. 11, for a showdown with I-20 rival Louisiana Tech. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. For season tickets, call 318-342-HAWK or visit ULMWarhawks.com. Links to live video streams and live stats are available on the softball schedule page at ULMWarhawks.com.
 
Follow along with all things Warhawk Softball on Facebook and Twitter at @ULM_Softball.