MONROE, La. – Sophomore Victoria Abrams and freshman Kinsey Kackley combined for a five-inning no-hitter in their ULM debuts as the Warhawk softball season opened the season with a 13-1 romp over Mississippi Valley State in the Best On The Bayou Classic at the Ouachita Sportsplex.
 
Abrams (1-0), an LSU transfer from Columbia, Louisiana, fired the first 4 1/3 innings, holding the Devilettes without a hit while giving up a run on two walks. She recorded eight strikeouts. Kackley, a native of McKinney, Texas, allowed a pair of walks to force home a run but recorded the final two outs to seal the run-rule win.
 
"Victoria did an incredible job setting the tone for the pitching staff this season," ULM head coach Molly Fichtner said. "It was fun to watch and created excitement and energy for our program and fans."
 
Abrams carried a perfect game through 4 1/3 innings before walking A'Tajua Wren and Sydney Wesley. Kackley came on in relief and walked Demi Slater before retiring Naomi Drake for the second out. However, a walk to Shelby Carson forced home pinch runner Ashlyn Matthews for MVSU's only run of the game.
 
ULM's offense picked up steam throughout the game. In the first inning, junior Korie Kreps singled to right field, bringing home sophomore Lourdes Bacon for the 1-0 advantage.
 
The Warhawks tacked two on to the lead in the second when freshman Gabby Davila singled to center, driving in junior Kennedy Page and redshirt freshman Jacelyn Buck, to go ahead 3-0.
 
The offense exploded in the third and fourth innings. Sophomore Madelyn Fletcher laid down a bunt single to score sophomore Ashlan Ard on the squeeze. Page picked up a 2-RBI double and Davila added a 2-run home run to put ULM up 8-0 after three innings.
 
The Warhawks tacked on five more in the fourth. Buck reached on an error that allowed sophomore Caley McGuff to score. Page collected her third RBI with an RBI single to score sophomore Kelsey Giddens. Bacon reached on another error which allowed Buck to score. Sophomore Andie Edwards capped the inning with an RBI single to plate Alexis Chavez for the 13-0 advantage.
 
"We are fired up with our performance offensively tonight, up and down the entire lineup," Fichtner said.
 
Page led ULM at the plate with three hits, including a double, three RBIs and two runs scored. Davila had two hits, including a home run, and four RBIs in her collegiate debut, while Bacon and Ard had two hits each.
 
"We have so many underclassmen on the field that showed out tonight," Fichtner said. "We are excited to take this W tonight and start preparing for tomorrow."
 
The Warhawks continue the Best On The Bayou Classic with two games on Saturday, facing SIUE at 12:30 p.m. and Morehead State at 3 p.m. at the Ouachita Sportsplex.