MONROE, La. – After weather conditions prevented ULM from taking the field over the weekend, the Warhawks are back on the softball diamond at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday vs. Louisiana Tech and at 1 and 3 p.m. Wednesday in Baton Rouge to face off with Eastern Illinois and Southern.
ULM (1-1) has been off since Friday, Feb. 12, when they defeated Jacksonville State 7-6 in eight innings in the second day of The Best On The Bayou Classic at the Ouachita Sportsplex. Games on Saturday and Sunday were canceled due to cold weather and light precipitation. The Warhawks also had a midweek game at McNeese State postponed to April 28 due to the winter storms which hit the region. Those same storms ultimately forced the postponement of the weekend tournament at Sam Houston State and home games against Northwestern State.
The Warhawks have been paced offensively by Korie Kreps. The Preseason All-Sun Belt Team selection is just 2-for-4 at the plate to open the season, but has walked five times for a .778 on base percentage. Kennedy Page, Madelyn Fletcher, Kelsey Giddens, Madison Blount and Jayden Mount each have two hits for ULM. Blount hit a grand slam against JSU, while Giddens picked up a triple and Fletcher has a double.
In the circle, Adrianna Chavarria has done most of the heavy lifting for ULM. Chavarria has thrown 9 2/3 of the 15 possible innings so far, going 1-1 with a 3.72 ERA. Chavarria gave up four runs on 12 hits with five walks and 11 strikeouts last weekend. Gianni Hulett made her collegiate debut last week, appearing in both games. She tossed 3 2/3 innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on six hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
Louisiana Tech defeated ULM 3-2 on opening night, Feb. 11, at the Ouachita Sportsplex. The Lady Techsters lost the following day to Oklahoma State, 8-0, in five innings and have not played since. LA Tech's Carolina Easom homered in the win over ULM, while Madie Green had a 2-run single. Audrey Pickett picked up the win in the circle while Emma Hutchinson earned a save.
Eastern Illinois is off to a 4-0 start to the season after sweeping Jackson State on Sunday, 7-0 and 9-1 in six innings, and Southern on Monday, 9-0 and 10-0, each in five innings. Morgan Lewis and Megan Burton lead the Panthers at the plate, each hitting .429 (6-for-14) through the first four games. Burton has three doubles, a home run and seven RBIs, while Lewis has a double and three RBIs. Jade Montgomery has been the top pitcher, going 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA over 10 2/3 innings, allowing just four hits with no walks and eight strikeouts this season.
Southern is 0-7 to open the season. The Jaguars have played all seven games since Friday, when they opened with a pair of 2-1 losses to North Dakota. Southern then lost three games to Southern Miss before getting swept in a Monday doubleheader against Eastern Illinois. No stats were available for Southern.
Links to live stats, when available, are posted on the softball schedule page at ULMWarhawks.com.
