MONROE, La. – After struggling offensively in a 5-2 loss to Nicholls in the opening game of Saturday's doubleheader, ULM responded in the nightcap, using a three-run fifth inning to earn a 5-3 win and a split at Warhawk Field.
Game 1: Nicholls 5, ULM 2
Nicholls used a two-run homerun by Basiel Williams to take the lead in the sixth inning and added two more runs in the eighth as the Colonels rallied for the 5-2 victory. Greg Anderberg hit a solo home run in the first inning and added an RBI single in the eighth inning to pace Nicholls with two hits and two RBIs. Williams finished with three RBIs.
ULM was held to just four hits in the game, with
Trace Henry and
Andrew Beesley picking up two hits each. Henry used a bunt single to reach base in the first inning and advanced to second on a throwing error. Beesley followed with a ground ball through the middle for a base hit, scoring Henry to tie the game at 1. The duo combined for another run in the third inning as Henry doubled to right center field and Beesley followed again with another ground ball up the middle to bring home Henry for the 2-1 lead.
The Warhawks would not record another hit following Beesley's second RBI single, picking up just three more base runners for the remainder of the game on a pair of walks to
Grant Schulz and one to Beesley.
Chase Gearing (1-1) picked up the win for Nicholls, giving up just two runs, one earned, on four hits with two walks and six strikeouts over seven innings. Joe Taylor earned his second save for the Colonels after pitching a perfect ninth inning with a strikeout.
Ty Barnes (0-1) suffered his first loss for ULM, giving up three runs on four hits with no walks and six strikeouts.
Game 2: ULM 5, Nicholls 3
The Warhawks (4-3) broke a 2-2 deadlock with a three-run fifth inning as
Logan Wurm and
Michael Cervantes drove in runs and Cervantes stole home to give ULM a 5-2 lead.
Trey Lindsay (1-0) threw four scoreless innings out of the bullpen, allowing just one hit with four strikeouts for his first career win.
Carson Orton closed out the final two innings, allowing a run on two hits with four strikeouts to collect his first career save.
Nicholls scored in the top of the first inning in the second straight game as Dillon Belle's RBI single scored Wes Toups for the 1-0 lead. ULM answered in the bottom half of the inning as
Danny DeSimone's sacrifice fly to center scored
Mason Holt. An error on the play allowed Beesley to score from second and give ULM the 2-1 advantage.
The Colonels tied the game in the third inning when Belle's RBI double plated Williams to knot the game at 2.
Ryan Humeniuk jump started ULM's offense in the fifth inning with a leadoff double.
Grant Schulz bunted for a single to put runners on the corners. Wurm followed with a sacrifice bunt to score Humeniuk to regain a 3-2 lead. Cervantes singled through the middle to bring home Schulz to push the advantage to 4-2. Later in the inning,
Mason Holt was caught off the first base bag on a pickoff move. Holt got into a run down, allowing Cervantes to score when Nicholls shortstop Parker Coddou dropped the ball on an attempted tag of Holt, giving ULM the 5-2 lead.
Nicholls picked up a run in the eighth inning on Dane Simon's RBI single to score Bell, but the Colonels were unable to draw any closer.
ULM and Nicholls meet in the series finale at 1 p.m. Sunday at Warhawk Field. Links to live audio and stats are available at ULMWarhawks.com.
