MONROE, La. – After a tough weekend at the Adam Brown Memorial Shamrock Classic in Conway, Arkansas, the ULM softball team will travel to Statesboro, Georgia, for the first conference series of the season against Georgia Southern at Eagle Field. The first game of the series will take place at 6 p.m., Friday, March 6.
The Warhawks (9-11) recently traveled to Conway and went 1-3 on the weekend. ULM defeated Central Arkansas in eight innings, 8-5, but lost to Belmont, 6-5, Stephen F. Austin in five innings, 11-2, and Northern Iowa, 8-4. On the Wednesday prior to the trip to Conway, the Warhawks posted a five-inning win over I-20 rival Louisiana Tech, 12-4.
Head coach Molly Fichtner has led the Warhawks to nine wins this season. The 14-42 squad from a year ago didn't reach their ninth win until late April.
Through Sunday's games, ULM ranks second in the Sun Belt Conference as a team in batting average at .296. The Warhawks have accumulated 154 hits, 23 doubles, seven triples, six home runs, 79 RBIs and 94 runs scored. In the pitcher's circle, ULM ranks ninth in the SBC in team ERA at 4.42. The Warhawks have given up 96 runs, 78 earned, on 153 hits with 63 strikeouts and 56 walks.
ULM's 154 hits are tied with Georgia Southern for first in the Sun Belt. The Warhawks are tied for first in triples (seven), rank first in stolen bases (39), second in batting average (.296) and third in runs scored (94).
Sophomore Korie Kreps has continued to be ULM's leading hitter this season and has one SBC Player of the Week nod under her belt. Kreps went 5-for-15 at the plate in the last five games with seven runs and a triple. Kreps' .468 season batting average ranks 38th in nation. She is also tied for 17th in hits (29) and ranks 29th in on base percentage (.566).
Senior Ana Hogan hit .533 over the week with eight hits, four runs, three doubles, a home run and 11 RBIs. Hogan's walk off three-run home run, her second home run of the season, against Louisiana Tech, ended the game in five innings and broke the school record for most RBIs in a game with seven. Her 23 RBIs are tied for 26th in the nation.
Senior Jayden Mount found her groove over the week and batted .412 with six runs on seven hits. Mount also added three doubles, five RBIs and her first home run of the season to her totals. Senior Jessie Watts accounted for five hits and four RBIs over the week while sophomore Jessica Williams crushed the first home run of her career on Sunday and batted .500. Williams had five runs on seven hits with a double and two RBIs.
Junior pitcher Amber Coons (4-1) has been ULM's ace this season and made four appearances with one game started since last Wednesday and picked up another win against Louisiana Tech. In 16 2/3 innings pitched, Coons posted a 2.94 ERA and gave up 10 runs, seven earned, on 21 hits while striking out 12 batters and walking six.
Sophomore pitcher Murphy Williams (4-2) went 1-1 during the week with four appearances and two games started. Williams gave up 11 runs, nine earned, on 14 hits in nine innings pitched. She also struck out nine batters and issued five walks.
Friday will mark the 20th all-time meeting between ULM and Georgia Southern. The Warhawks lead the series, 13-6.
The two teams split a pair of conference games last season in an April doubleheader. ULM gained its first home win of the season against the Eagles (11-9) in a 14-13 shootout. Later in the day, Georgia Southern rebounded and won, 9-1. The rubber match was cancelled due to weather.
Senior Mekhia Freeman has led the way for the Eagles with a .433 batting average. Freeman has accounted for a team-leading 22 runs on 26 hits. She also leads the team with five home runs and five stolen bases. Freeman has also hit three doubles, two triples and accumulated 11 RBIs.
Freshman Bailee Wilson leads the team with 21 RBIs. The freshman is hitting .290 with 10 runs on 20 hits and has five doubles, two triples, and a home run.
Freshman Aaliyah Garcia and Junior Rylee Waldrep have been Georgia Southern's most prolific pitchers this season with a combined eight wins.
Garcia (4-4) has posted a 2.14 ERA with 25 runs, 17 earned, on 48 hits over 55 2/3 innings pitched. She has struck out 46 batters and only walked five. Waldrep (4-4) is boasting a 2.45 ERA over 51 1/3 innings pitched. She has given up 24 runs, 18 earned, on 48 hits and has struck out 32 batters while issuing 13 walks.
Links to live video and stats for the series against Georgia Southern 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.
