MONROE, La. – Amber Coons tossed a five-inning no-hitter with eight strikeouts as the ULM softball team ran its winning streak to three games after conducting a doubleheader sweep of Grambling State by scores of 4-2 and 8-0 on Wednesday, March 10 at the ULM Softball Complex. The three-game winning streak is the longest by the Warhawks this season.
The eight strikeouts matched a career-high for Coons.
"It feels awesome," Coons said of the no-hitter. "I really can't do it without my defense behind my back. They were making plays all night long. That's really what it comes down to."
Among the top individual performers for the Warhawks, who improved to 6-11 overall with the victories, was junior outfielder
Korie Kreps. Kreps combined to finish 4-for-5 from the plate with four runs, three doubles and an RBI. Teammates
Andie Edwards (2-4, RBI, 2 runs) and
Kelsey Giddens (2-2, 3 RBIs, run) also had multiple hits in the doubleheader.
In the circle, ULM was led by the performances of
Kassidy Giddens and
Amber Coons. Coons (1-2) was responsible for a complete game no-hitter in game two. She struck out eight of the 15 batters that she faced over five innings as she picked up her first win of the season.
"What you saw tonight, especially going into conference, is exciting because for the first time, we're firing on all cylinders," head coach
Molly Fichtner said. "We had great defense, we had great offense and we had a great pitcher on the mound."
ULM 4, Grambling State 2 (Game 1)
ULM established the early lead in the first game of the doubleheader, manufacturing a pair of first inning runs after Kreps led off the inning with a walk. Two batters later, with Kreps at second after a sacrifice bunt from Edwards,
Jayden Mount sent a triple to right field to provide the Warhawks with a 1-0 lead. Mount trotted home on a grounder to short by
Madelyn Fletcher, stretching the lead to two runs.
The Warhawks extended their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the third, again due to contributions by Kreps, who reached on a leadoff double down the left field line. With Kreps at third, following a grounder by Edwards, Mount laid down a sacrifice bunt to plate the third run of the game.
Grambling State (3-5) scored its first run of the game in the fourth on a home run by Morgan Adams, but the Warhawks countered with a run in the fifth.
Alysia Anderson reached on a walk and swiped second base before Kreps connected on her second double of the game, allowing Anderson to stretch the ULM lead to 4-1.
The Tigers scored their final run in the seventh, which came on a sacrifice bunt from Nyah Jones, to make for the 4-2 final.
Kreps was the lone ULM hitter in the lineup with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-2 with two runs and an RBI. Both of Kreps hits resulted in a double. Teammate
Kassidy Giddens (2-1) earned the complete game victory, allowing two runs on four hits, surrendering one walk and striking out six Tiger hitters.
ULM 8, Grambling State 0 (Game 2)
In similar fashion to the first game, ULM jumped out to a first inning lead, this time scoring three runs in the frame. Kreps continued to swing the hot bat, reaching base on a bunt single where she advanced to second on a throw.
Andie Edwards followed with a single to centerfield, advancing Kreps to third.
Jayden Mount grounded to short, advancing Edwards to second and scoring Kreps as the Warhawks assumed the 1-0 lead.
Madelyn Fletcher continued the inning with a single up the middle, scoring Edwards for the game's second run. Two batters later,
Kelsey Giddens delivered a single to centerfield, loading the bases for
Jacelyn Buck, who drew a walk for the third ULM run of the inning.
ULM recorded its second multi-run inning of the game in the second as Kreps doubled to left center to open the frame. Edwards quickly scored her teammate with a single through the left side of the infield, stretching the lead to 4-0. Mount followed with a single of her own, scoring Edwards as the lead ballooned to 5-0.
Mount slid to second on a wild pitch and
Kennedy Johnson drew a one-out walk before Giddens slammed a home run over the left field wall as ULM assumed an 8-0 lead. The Warhawks had one hit over the final three innings, finishing with 10 on the game, while the defense held Grambling State hitless.
ULM was led at the plate by the trio of Kreps (2-3, 2 runs, double), Edwards (2-2, RBI, 2 runs) and Giddens (2-2, 3 RBI, run, HR). A total of seven ULM sluggers had at least one hit in the contest.
The Warhawks remain in Monroe for a three-game homestand this weekend against Sun Belt Conference foe Coastal Carolina. The series begins with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 13 and follows with a single game on Sunday, March 14.
