MONROE, La. – The ULM softball team struggled to find its offensive rhythm in a doubleheader against UT Arlington on Friday, April 2, suffering setbacks of 7-0 and 11-1 (5 innings). It marks the first time this season that the Warhawks won't earn a series win against a Sun Belt Conference opponent.
 
GAME 1: UTA 7, ULM 0
 
The Mavericks broke a scoreless tie with a four-run fourth inning, plating the first run of the game when Reagan Hukill drove a double into left-center field that scored Aileen Garcia. Emily Evans stepped up to the plate and delivered a single that scored both Hukill and Courtney Ogle, stretching the lead to 3-0. Evans was responsible for the final run of the frame, scoring on a single to left field by Kenedy Hines.
 
The scoring barrage for UTA carried over into the fifth inning when Madison Miller came through with a single to right field that brought home Jadyn Erickson. Three batters later, Hukill delivered a two-run single down the left-field line, scoring KJ Murphy and Madison Miller in succession, marking the final two runs of the game.
 
ULM finished the game with three hits, receiving doubles from Jayden Mount and Madelyn Fletcher. The other hit came from Kennedy Johnson, who stretched her hitting streak to a season-long eight games, the longest hitting streak of any Warhawk in 2021.
 
JoJo Valencia (2-2) earned the win for UTA, tossing five innings, allowing two hits while striking out seven batters. Adrianna Chavarria (1-5) suffered the loss after 3 2/3 innings which resulted in five hits, four runs (three earned) and three strikeouts.
 
GAME 2: UTA 11, ULM 1 (5 innings)
 
The Mavericks stampeded out to a 10-0 lead in the first inning, taking advantage of eight hits and three ULM miscues. The first of those two runs came on a KJ Murphy home run over the centerfield wall. Emily Evans came through with a double to left for UTA, scoring Aileen Garcia for the game's fourth run.
 
UTA extended its lead to 11-0 in the top of the second when Reagan Hukill connected on a solo home run, sending it over the left centerfield wall. The Warhawks answered with one run in the bottom of the second when Kennedy Page sent a single up the middle that brought home Kelsey Giddens from third for the lone ULM run of the day. Giddens had reached base on a single up the middle before reaching second on a passed ball.
 
The Warhawks (10-16, 4-3 Sun Belt) ended the game with five hits, two coming from Madelyn Fletcher. Kennedy Johnson's hitting streak came to a close with an 0-for-3 performance. Amber Coons (1-3) took the loss, allowing two hits and three earned runs among the three batters she faced.
 
UTA (10-20, 3-5 SBC) amassed 11 hits, including a pair of multi-hit performances by Murphy (2-3, 3 RBI, 2 runs, HR) and Hukill (2-3, 2 runs, RBI, HR). Kenedy Hines improved her record to 3-9 after tossing two innings, allowing one run and one walk.
 
ULM concludes the three-game series against UTA on Saturday, April 3 at 12 p.m.