BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The ULM softball team wrapped up its first day of Samford Tournament, with a series of setbacks to Northern Iowa, 9-6, and Samford, 2-1, on Saturday, February 27.
ULM was led offensively on the day by
Kennedy Johnson, who finished the day by going 3-for-7 from the plate with three RBI, one run and a double. Teammate
Kennedy Page contributed a home run for the Warhawks' offense.
In the circle, ULM was led by
Gianni Hulett, who slipped to 1-1 on the season despite recording three strikeouts against Northern Iowa.
Game 1: Northern Iowa 9, ULM 6
Northern Iowa (4-4) established itself early in the first inning when a double to right centerfield by Brooke Snider brought Sammey Bunch home for the 1-0 lead. Kamryn Shaffer stretched the Panthers' lead to 3-0 with a two-run homerun with only one out on the scoreboard. After back-to-back walks put Sammy Moss in scoring position at second base, Daryn Lamprecht connected on a single that scored Moss for the 4-0 Northern Iowa lead.
ULM cut into the lead with a three-run fourth, which began with a
Kennedy Page solo home run to open the frame.
Madison Blount reached base after being plunked and two batters later
Kelsey Giddens delivered a single that put Blount in scoring position.
Kennedy Johnson kept the inning alive with a double into left centerfield, scoring Blount and Giddens to make for a 4-3 contest.
The Warhawks drew even in the top half of the fifth. After Page drew a two-out walk, Blount followed with a double to right center, scoring Page from first, to tie the game at 4.
After a double play ended the Northern Iowa scoring threat in the sixth, ULM manufactured its fifth run of the game.
Mount opened the sixth with a single to left field and moved to second on a wild pitch. Johnson roped a single into left centerfield, scoring Mount in the process, to give the Warhawks their first lead. Despite three hits in the inning, ULM managed only one run, which was equaled by the Panthers in the bottom of the inning when Emma Valainis hit a home run over the left field wall, tying the game at five.
ULM regained the lead in the top of the sixth when a sacrifice fly by Mount scored pinch runner
Alysia Anderson from third, providing the Warhawks with a 6-5 advantage.
Valainis was again an issue for the ULM, delivering a two-out RBI single to left to knot the game at six. Lamprecht followed with a single to short, moving Valainis to second, before Emmy Wells connected on a walk-off home run to left centerfield, giving the Panthers a 9-6 win.
Game 2: Samford 2, ULM 1
Tournament host Samford assumed a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Ryan Brzozoski reached on a single through the right side of the infield. Kathryn Jackson followed with a double to left center, moving Brzozoski to third, before teammate Amanda Briskin brought Brzozoski home with a single to left field.
The ULM offense heated up in the fifth when
Kennedy Johnson led off the frame with a single back to pitcher. Four batters later, with Johnson in scoring position after
Caley McGuff reached on a fielder's choice,
Kennedy Page reached base on a single that scored Johnson in the process.
Samford regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Whitney Hinton drove a home run over the left field wall.
Amber Coons came on in relief of
Murphy Williams for ULM, who had allowed a double to left field by Lindsey Nelson, and closed out the inning by striking out Samford's Kathryn Johnson.
The Warhawks had just one hit over the final two innings, which came from
Jayden Mount, as Samford completed the victory for pitcher Abby Swaney (2-1), who scattered four hits and struck out five Warhawk hitters. Emily Barnett (S, 1) preserved the win by tossing two innings, allowing one hit and striking out a trio of Warhawk sluggers.
ULM completes the tournament on Sunday, February 28 when the Warhawks face Northern Iowa at 11 a.m. and Samford at 2 p.m.
