TROY, Ala. – The ULM softball team rallied in the late innings in the series finale at Troy Sunday, but lost 6-4 at the Troy Softball Complex. The Warhawks (16-8, 3-3) scored four runs in the top of the sixth inning and had the winning run at the plate in the seventh, but Troy pitcher Leanna Johnson worked her way out of both innings before the Warhawks could do more damage.
 
"It was good to see us come back, but we can't wait until the sixth to start making things happen," said ULM head coach Molly Fichtner. "Offensively, we just need to swing at strikes. That's when we are successful. We have two games this week and that will be good for us, good for our pitching staff to throw a few more innings and keep everyone fresh and game-ready."
 
Neither team produced any runs through the first three innings, but Troy (18-7) came up with three runs in both the fourth and fifth innings. The Trojans got back-to-back singles from Kelly Horne and Libby Baker in the fourth, followed by a sacrifice bunt to put both in scoring positions. A single by Taylor McKinney plated one run and an Audra Thompson single brought in another. A sacrifice fly brought McKinney across home for a 3-0 Troy lead.
 
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth after two walks and a single, a throwing error on Trojan Anslee Finch's single brought three runs in, two earned, as Troy went up 6-0. ULM, however, battled back in its next at-bat. Kennedy Page led off the sixth inning with a single and Alexis Chavez walked. A fielder's choice and wild pitch put Warhawks on second and third with one out.
 
Kennedy Johnson drove in two runs with her double to right field. Madison Blount grounded out, but plated a run and moved Madelyn Fletcher, who had walked, to second. Lourdes Bacon singled to bring Fletcher in and cut the Warhawks' deficit to two runs with a 6-4 Trojan advantage.
 
ULM kept battling, but Leanna Johnson, who got the final out of the sixth inning for the Trojans, got the save with two strikeouts and a flyout to end the Warhawks' threat in the seventh.
 
Warhawk starter Victoria Abrams took the loss (5-1) after giving up two earned runs. She re-entered the game to relieve Adrianna Chavarria who faced 12 batters and was responsible for three earned runs. Leanna Johnson earned the save, facing four batters in relief of winning pitcher Libby Baker (6-2).
 
Five Warhawks each picked up a hit with ULM's first hit of the afternoon coming in the fourth inning.
 
The Warhawks begin a five-game homestand with two mid-week non-conference games vs. Grambling at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 22, and Southeastern at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 23. ULM plays host to App State in its next Sun Belt Conference series the weekend of Friday-Sunday, March 25-27.