STATESBORO, Ga. – The ULM softball team gave up four runs in the first inning and couldn't rebound as it fell to Georgia Southern, 9-6, on Friday, March 6, at Eagle Field in Statesboro, Georgia.
"I don't think our defense had our starting pitcher's back tonight and when you don't have pitching or defense, you give up a lot and it bites you," head coach Molly Fichtner said.
Georgia Southern (12-9, 1-0 Sun Belt) struck quickly in the bottom of the first to take an early lead. Ashlynn Gunter walked and then made it to third on a Mekhia Freeman double. On the next batter, Bailee Wilson reached on a fielder's choice when Gunter was tagged out at home. While the Warhawks (9-12, 0-1 Sun Belt) were trying to turn a double play, Freeman came home on an error to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.
Janai Conklin singled to load the bases for Georgia Southern and three straight walks gave the Eagles a 4-0 lead after sending 10 batters to the plate.
Sophomore Jessica Williams cut ULM's deficit in the top of the second with her second home run of the season in back-to-back weekends. The bomb to left field was the second homer of her career. However, Georgia Southern still held a 4-1 lead.
In the bottom of the second, the Eagles increased their lead by two. Wilson singled to shortstop and Faith Shirley hit a two-run home run to center field to give Georgia Southern a 6-1 lead.
The Warhawks rebounded in the top of the third when they scored three runs to stay in the game. Sophomore Korie Kreps reached on a fielding error and senior Jayden Mount brought Kreps home on a triple to center field. On the next batter, senior Ana Hogan doubled to bring Mount home.
With Hogan on second, Williams got her second hit of the day with a single to put Hogan on third. A single by freshman Kelsey Giddens brought Hogan home as the score brought the Warhawks within two, 6-4.
"I was really pleased with our hitters, but we have to clean up some things and throw a few more strikes and a little less balls," Fichtner said.
After a brief stalemate, the Eagles added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run homer to left center by Shayla Smith to take an 8-4 lead.
In the top of the fifth, ULM loaded the bases, but only gained one run when senior Jessie Watts came home on a fielder's choice by freshman Jacelyn Buck. Georgia Southern still held an 8-5 lead. The Eagles added another run in the bottom of the fifth when Ellington Day came home on a passed ball to take a 9-5 lead.
Sophomore Kennedy Page added another run in the top of the sixth on a ground out by Hogan to cut Georgia Southern's lead to 9-6. In the top of the seventh, ULM put runners on second and third, but couldn't score any runs and fell to the Eagles.
Williams and Giddens both went 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI apiece. Williams also had a run scored. Hogan and Page both went 2-for-4 with one run each while Hogan added two RBIs to her totals. Mount, Kreps, Watts and Buck combined for two hits, three runs and two RBIs.
"Kelsey (Giddens) and Jessica (Williams) had a great day, but I'm proud of all of the offense," Fichtner said.
Junior pitcher Amber Coons (4-2) got the start and gave up four unearned runs on two hits and walked five batters in 2/3 of an inning while picking up the loss. Sophomore Murphy Williams (4-2) pitched 3 1/3 innings and gave up five runs, two earned, on five hits. She struck out two batters and walked three more. Sophomore Adrianna Chavarria came in for the last two innings and gave up one hit while striking out two batters and walking another.
"It was great seeing Adrianna come in and shut them down for a few innings," Fichtner said. "It's great seeing her back on the mound because she definitely gives the team a sense of excitement."
Kyleigh Richardson (3-0) picked up the win for Georgia State in four innings pitched. She gave up two runs, one earned, on five hits and walked two batters. Aaliyah Garcia (4-4) got the start and gave up four runs, three earned, on seven hits and struck out two batters.
ULM will battle Georgia Southern on Saturday, March 7, in the second game of the conference series. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m on ESPN+. Links to live stats and video can be found on the softball schedule page at ULMWarhawks.com.
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