ULM Warhawks

MONROE, La. – The ULM softball team experienced a 2-0 setback at the hands of South Alabama, the Sun Belt Conference's current No. 2 team. Offensively, the Warhawks (23-20, 9-12) mustered only three hits and had only four baserunners in their only league shutout loss this season.
 
"At least six of South Alabama's nine runs this weekend were walks, so our pitchers have to attack the zone and our hitters have to make better adjustments pitch to pitch," said ULM head coach Molly Fichtner. "The best practice we can have is having these two mid-week games this week. We look forward to that. We need to turn the page, but we have to learn from this. If we don't learn from it, we'll stay on the same page for the rest of the season."
 
South Alabama (20-17, 12-4) had a hit in each of the first two innings, but didn't get on the scoreboard until the third. Back-to-back walks for the Jaguars to start the inning put runners on first and second. A fielder's choice eliminated the lead runner at third base, but a ground out on the next play advanced the runners to second and third base. A single by Kamdyn Kvistad brought both Jaguars home for a 2-0 lead.
 
The Warhawks used a double play to halt a South Alabama threat in the fifth with a lead-off single. The Jaguars had one hit in the sixth and seventh innings, but sent only four batters to the plate. ULM's final baserunner was a lead-off walk in the bottom of the seventh, but Jaguar winning pitcher Olivia Lackie (11-6) retired the side.
 
ULM had their three hits in the first four innings, but the bats were quiet for the rest of the game. Kennedy Johnson, Andie Edwards and Gabby Davila each had a hit with Davila reaching base two times with a walk.
 
Lackie picked up her second win over the weekend with the shutout, allowing only three hits and the one walk. Kinsey Kackley (8-7) took the loss in two innings of work. Kassidy Giddens pitched five innings without allowing an earned run and gave up five hits.
 
ULM returns to action with two non-conference games this week at the ULM Softball Complex with a Tuesday, April 26 game that was rescheduled from earlier this season vs. Grambling and a Wednesday, April 27 contest vs. McNeese on ESPN+. The link for live stats for both games will be available on the softball schedule page at ULMWarhawks.com.