MONROE, La. – Looking to earn its second Sun Belt Conference series of the 2021 season, the ULM softball team heads to Statesboro, Georgia for a clash with Georgia Southern this weekend. The Warhawks will play twice against Georgia Southern on Saturday March 20, with games at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., and conclude the three-game stretch with a 12 p.m. game on Sunday, March 21.
ULM (8-12, 2-1 Sun Belt) hasn't played since last weekend's series win over Coastal Carolina. The Warhawks opened Sun Belt Conference action by winning two of three games in the series against Coastal Carolina, sweeping the Chanticleers in a doubleheader by scores of 6-3 and 8-4, securing the series on Saturday, March 13. Coastal Carolina came away with a 2-0 win in the series finale, halting a five-game winning streak by ULM.
The Warhawks enter the series against Georgia Southern with the chance to clinch back-to-back series wins against Sun Belt Conference opposition for the first time since the 2018 campaign.
ULM conducted a three-game sweep of Coastal Carolina on March 30-31, 2018, defeating the Chanticleers by scores of 8-0, 12-9 and 8-2 in succession. The following weekend, in a clash with UT Arlington, the Warhawks dropped the opening game of the series by a 12-3 margin, but rebounded to claim a 4-2 win in the second game and 7-6 victory in the third game to claim their second straight Sun Belt Conference series of the season.
Among the top individuals in the Warhawks' lineup is junior outfield
Korie Kreps, who ranks in the Top 2 of 10 statistical categories for Warhawk hitters including on base plus slugging percentage (1.104—1st), hits (19—1st), slugging percentage (.625—1st), on-base percentage (.479—1st), total bases (35—1st), doubles (8—1st), home runs (2—t-1st), walks (14—1st), runs (10—2nd) and batting average (.339—2nd).
Kennedy Johnson, who finished 3-for-8 from the plate with a run and two RBIs last weekend against Coastal Carolina, became the best statistical hitter on the team with a .349 batting average. Johnson, who has four multi-hit games in 2021, has recorded 15 hits in 43 at bats for the Warhawks. She has also amassed a .372 slugging percentage and .417 on-base percentage for ULM.
Freshman hurler
Gianni Hulett became the team leader in strikeouts with 21 to her credit after fanning six Coastal Carolina hitters during a doubleheader sweep on March 13. Hulett has recorded multiple strikeouts in seven contests this season, setting her single-game high versus Louisiana Tech, when she struck out four hitters.
Georgia Southern (5-9, 0-0 Sun Belt) is 4-1 at home this season and is playing against its first Sun Belt Conference opponent in 2021 this weekend. Before suffering a setback to No. 20 South Carolina on March 10th, the Eagles had swept a series against College of Charleston on March 6-7.
The top slugger for the Eagles is Bailee Wilson, who is responsible for a .465 batting average by virtue of 20 hits, six doubles, one triple and one home run in 43 at bats. She has a team-best nine RBIs and leads the way for the unit in slugging percentage, .721, and a .511 on-base percentage.
Aailyah Garcia (2-2) is the lone pitcher on staff with multiple wins for Georgia Southern. She has logged 27 innings on the mound, allowed 32 hits, 20 runs and converted 18 strikeouts. Kyleigh Richardson, Rylee Waldrep and Harlee Rewis have one win each on the mound for the Eagles this season.
Links to live video and stats are available on the softball schedule page at ULMWarhawks.com.
