MONROE, La. – The ULM softball team heads into this weekend's clash with Sun Belt Conference foe Coastal Carolina on a three-game winning streak after downing Sam Houston State and Grambling State (twice) in succession.
The Warhawks' three-game streak is the second-longest in the ULM coaching tenure of
Molly Fichtner. Fichtner guided the Warhawks to four straight wins in late February 2020, downing the combination of Houston Baptist (10-4), Abilene Christian (8-0), Incarnate Word (8-0) and Nicholls State (6-1) between February 21-23, 2020 at the Mardi Gras Mambo.
The Warhawks begin play in the two-day, three-game series on Saturday, March 13. The first game of the doubleheader begins at 1 p.m. and will be followed by a doubleheader that is set for approximately 3:30 p.m.
This weekend marks the first time since the Chanticleers joined the league that ULM has opened the conference slate against Coastal Carolina. ULM is 12-18 since 2010 in Sun Belt Conference series openers. The Warhawks have won only two series in that span, both of which came against Appalachian State. The first came in 2015 when ULM conducted a sweep of the Mountaineers in Wingate, N.C., by scores of 10-1 (5 inn. / March 7), 6-5 (March 7) and 4-0 (March 8).
The second series win came the following season, also against the Mountaineers. The Warhawks won two of three games in 2016, posting a 9-5 win in the opening game of the series on March 12 before earning a 6-5 (8 innings) victory in the nightcap of the doubleheader. Appalachian State won the final game of the series 4-1 on March 13.
The Warhawks are 1-2 in league series openers under the direction of Fichtner. Fitchner's 2019 squad lost two of three games to Troy on March 8. Troy opened with an 8-0 on March 8, but the Warhawks responded with a 4-1 victory in the nightcap of the doubleheader. The Trojans closed out the rubber game of the series by a 6-1 margin on March 10. ULM did not compete in any conference games in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The hottest bat in the ULM lineup belongs to ULM outfielder
Korie Kreps. Kreps enters the Coastal Carolina series on a four-game hitting streak, her second of the slate. Kreps began her current streak in a clash against Missouri (March 7), where she finished 1-for-2 at the plate with a double. Kreps followed that with a double in the 8-6 win over Sam Houston State (March 7), which capped off the Courtyard by Marriott Tournament hosted by the University of Oklahoma. She finished 2-for-3 from the plate in both of the games against Grambling State (March 10), combining for four runs, three doubles and an RBI.
Pitcher
Amber Coons is also coming off a solid outing for the Warhawks. Coons tossed a five-inning no-hitter with eight strikeouts in the second game of the doubleheader against Grambling State on Wednesday. Coons, who matched her career-high in strikeouts (eight) faced just 15 batters during the five innings that she was on the mound.
Coons became the first Warhawk to record a no-hitter since Samantha Hamby on March 29, 2014. Hamby tossed six innings in her no-hitter, which ULM lost to No. 12 South Alabama by a 2-0 margin.
Coastal Carolina (6-7) enters the weekend on a two-game losing streak after suffering setbacks to Louisville (12-5) and No. 10 Kentucky (12-3) at the Florida Atlantic Tournament on Sunday, March 7.
The best statistical hitter for the Chanticleers is Makiya Thomas, who is responsible for a .419 batting average that has come by virtue of 18 hits and resulted in 11 runs, nine RBI, five doubles and two home runs. She also has a .674 slugging percentage and a .458 on-base percentage.
Kaitlin Beasley-Polko (4-3) leads the pitching staff in innings pitched (44), and strikeouts (46) on the season. She has made 10 appearances and seven starts for Coastal Carolina this season.
Saturday's games will be televised by ESPN+. For links to live video and stats, visit the softball schedule page at ULMWarhawks.com.
