ULM Warhawks

ULM (20-35-1 overall, 9-20-1 Sun Belt Conference in 2022) vs. Bradley (20-29 overall, 11-10 Missouri Valley Conference in 2022)
Lou St. Amant Field | Monroe, La.

6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, 2023 | LHP Cam Barlow (2-7, 5.14 ERA, 69 K, 31 BB) vs. RHP Jacob Kisting (6-4, 4.88 ERA, 79 K, 33 BB)
LISTEN: 105.7 FM/540 AM KMLB | LIVE STATS | TICKETS

6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023 | RHP Cole Cressend (3-6, 7.08 ERA, 40 K, 25 BB) vs. RHP Travis Lutz (First appearance)
LISTEN: 105.7 FM/540 AM KMLB | LIVE STATS | TICKETS

1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023 | LHP Chipper Menard (at ULL: 5-1, 3 SV, 4.48 ERA, 30 K, 11 BB)
LISTEN: 105.7 FM/540 AM KMLB | LIVE STATS | TICKETS

GAME NOTES

MONROE, La. - The ULM baseball team opens the 72nd season in program history at 6 p.m. Friday against Bradley at the newly appointed Lou St. Amant Field. The series continues at 6 p.m. Saturday and concludes at 1 p.m. Sunday. Friday's game is the first-ever meeting between ULM and Bradley.

All three games of the weekend series will air on 105.7 FM/540 AM KMLB, KMLB.com and the TuneIn app. The Voice of the Warhawks, Mike Hammett, will have the call of Friday's and Sunday's games, while Rickey Robertson will fill in for Hammett on Saturday's game.

ULM head coach Michael Federico begins his sixth season with the Warhawks on Friday. After leading the club to an 11-win improvement in his first year and a two-win improvement in his second year, he led the Warhawks to their first .500-or-better season since 2012 with a 26-26 mark in 2021 as ULM finished third in the Sun Belt Conference West Division. In 2022, Federico led the Warhawks to their third consecutive appearance in the SBC Championship, including a first-round win against Georgia State before falling to eventual regional-finalist team Texas State in the rain-altered single-elimination quarterfinals.

The Warhawks return four position players that saw time in 2022. Junior first baseman Michelle Artzberger is the top returning hitter by average after hitting .265 last season with 45 hits, 11 doubles, five home runs, 25 RBIs, 16 runs scored and 20 walks. His five homers are also tops among returners. The Lawton, Oklahoma, native is also renowned for his defense at first base, and made a game-saving pick in last season's 7-5 win at the Ragin' Cajuns on April 15.

Junior infielder Carson Jones is back as the top returner in RBIs (31), runs scored (18) and stolen bases (six, tied with Travis Washburn). The Monroe native hit .212 last season wtih 28 hits, six doubles, one triple, four home runs and 17 walks. His seven multi-RBI games ranked third on the team last season and is tops among returners. He had a career-high six RBIs at McNeese on April 26.

On the mound, ULM returns eight players who saw time in 2022. Fifth-year junior left-hander Cam Barlow is expected to start the season-opener for the second-consecutive year on Friday night. The Halls, Tennessee, native started 15 games last year, going 2-7 with a 5.14 ERA over a team-high 77 innings, allowing 53 runs, 44 earned, on 82 hits with 69 strikeouts and 31 walks. Junior right-hander Cole Cressend also returns to the weekend rotation, while top bullpen options in junior right-handers Carson Orton and Nicholas Judice also return for the Warhawks.

WELCOME TO "THE LOU"
Friday's Opening Day against Bradley marks the first game at ULM's baseball facility with its newly-appointed name: Lou St. Amant Field. The name change to honor the former baseball head coach and Northeast Louisiana University alumnus was approved by the Louisiana Board of Supervisors on Aug. 25, 2022.

St. Amant spent 18 seasons as the head coach of the NLU baseball team, picking up 414 career victories, and was instrumental in both the initial construction of the baseball facility in 1983 and the turf and Stadium Club renovation project, which culminated prior to the 2022 season.

There were several high points in St. Amant's career. His first feat came in his initial season as head coach. After spending two years as an assistant, the 1970 NLU graduate took over in 1976 and led Northeast to a 20-13 record, halting a string of four consecutive losing seasons.
 
His first victory as a head coach came in his very first game, 6-2 over Northwestern State.
 
Northeast was an NCAA Division I independent when the Norco, Louisiana, native took over. St. Amant's first three seasons were as an independent before NLU joined the Trans America Athletic Conference in 1979. The best finish for NLU in the TAAC was a tie for first in the West Division during the 1982 season.
 
Northeast joined the Southland Conference in 1983 and made a sudden impact. St. Amant led the Indians to their first conference title in any major men's sport in the SLC. The Indians also advanced to the NCAA playoffs for the first time. They had previously played in the NAIA playoffs four times, reaching the 1970 World Series, before becoming an NCAA member.

Prepping at Destrehan High School, St. Amant was an outstanding high school player who continued his career at LSU. Difficulties with his pitching arm ended his career at LSU. After leaving LSU, St. Amant started his teaching and coaching career at schools in south Louisiana. He spent time at Sacred Heart School in Norco (1960-64), St. Charles Boromeo in Destrehan (1964-66 and 1967-68) and St. Joan of Arc School in LaPlace (1966-67) before coming to Northeast as an assistant and completing his bachelor's and master's degrees.
 
After his graduation in 1970, St. Amant returned to the high school ranks. His greatest success came during five years as athletic director and head football coach at Lutcher High School, where he posted a 44-13 record, including LHSAA Class 3A state championship and runner-up teams. His 1975 squad went undefeated at 13-0-1 in taking the Class 3A title.
 
Returning to NLU in January of 1976, he was also an assistant football coach, but dropped those duties in 1979 to devote all of his time to baseball.
 
His wife Marilyn was a fixture at home games and enjoyed traveling and cheering on Lou and his teams. The couple was married for 58 years before her passing in July 2020.
 
St. Amant has also had his number retired by ULM baseball and was named a Warhawk Ambassador Award winner by the ULM Foundation in May of 2022.
 
A formal dedication ceremony will take place later this season.

NEW FACES FOR A NEW SEASON IN 2023
A current roster is a must for anyone watching the 2023 ULM Warhawks early in the season. ULM features 24 newcomers among its 36-man roster.

In the outfield, Chenar Brown, a highly-decorated transfer from Jackson State, is one of those newcomers to watch. The 6-foot-7, 235-pounder was a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American in 2021 along with first-team All-Southwestern Conference and SWAC Freshman of the Year. Brown should be a fixture in right field alongside Shawn Dalton Weatherbee in center. The 5-10, 220-pound Weatherbee hit .297 and belted nine home runs for Northeast Mississippi Community College prior to joining the Warhawks. Sterlington, Louisiana, native Jarrett McDonald, who comes to ULM after stops at LSU-Eunice and Dallas Baptist, is the top contender to start in left field. Travis Washburn, who is one of the returning players, and highly-regarded freshman Cardell Thibodeaux should also factor into the outfield mix.

Around the infield, first baseman Michelle Artzberger, who started 44 games and ranked sixth on the team last season with a .265 batting average, is returning. Other experienced returnees are the versatile Chase DeJean (.259, 3 HR) and infielder Carson Jones (.212, 4 HR). Red-shirt freshman Kade Dupont, Jones and Mississippi State transfer Davis Meche are in the mix for the second base spot. Auburn transfer and Sterlington, Louisiana, native Seaver Sheets, the son of ULM legend Ben Sheets, will also be a factor in the middle infield. Competition at shortstop includes Tallahassee Community College transfer Jayson Zmejkoski, Jones and DeJean. Third base options include DeJean and freshman Jake Haggard. Matt Abshire, a pickup from Pensacola State College, and Riley Davis from Itawamba Community College are the top contenders to catch for the Warhawks.

While there are more returners on the mound, there are still some impact additions. Chipper Menard, a junior left-handed transfer from the Sun Belt Conference rival Ragin' Cajuns, is expected to be Sunday's starting pitcher. As a sophomore with the Cajuns in 2022, Menard made 26 appearances with a 5-1 record, three saves and 4.48 ERA.

Also new to ULM in 2023 is pitching coach Ryan McClaran. McClaran spent last season at Maine. He is a Texas native and has a stint with the Army on his resume.

KEY RETURNERS SET TO HELP LEAD 2023 WARHAWKS
The Warhawks return five position players that saw time in 2022. Junior first baseman Michelle Artzberger is the top returning hitter by average after hitting .265 last season with 45 hits, 11 doubles, five home runs, 25 RBIs, 16 runs scored and 20 walks. His five homers are also tops among returners. The Lawton, Oklahoma, native is also renowned for his defense at first base, and made a game-saving pick in last season's 7-5 win at the Ragin' Cajuns on April 15.

Junior infielder Carson Jones is back as the top returner in RBIs (31), runs scored (18) and stolen bases (six, tied with Travis Washburn). The Monroe native hit .212 last season wtih 28 hits, six doubles, one triple, four home runs and 17 walks. His seven multi-RBI games ranked third on the team last season and is tops among returners. He had a career-high six RBIs at McNeese on April 26.

Other position players returning include junior Landon Cato, who played in 39 games with 25 starts while hitting .240 with seven doubles, four homers and 15 RBIs, fifth-year senior Travis Washburn, one of ULM's two seniors on the roster who played in 39 games with 29 starts with two doubles, two triples and three homers last year, and junior Chase DeJean, who played in 33 games with 24 starts with three doubles, three homers and 17 RBIs last year.

On the mound, ULM returns nine players who saw time in 2022. Fifth-year junior left-hander Cam Barlow is expected to start the season-opener for the second-consecutive year on Friday night. The Halls, Tennessee, native started 15 games last year, going 2-7 with a 5.14 ERA over a team-high 77 innings, allowing 53 runs, 44 earned, on 82 hits with 69 strikeouts and 31 walks. Junior right-hander Cole Cressend also returns to the weekend rotation, while top bullpen options in junior right-handers Carson Orton and Nicholas Judice also return for the Warhawks. Sophomore right-hander Henry Shuffler returns as a possible bullpen or midweek starting option, while junior right-handers Wyatt Blalock and Chase DeJean, sophomore right-hander Zach Shaw and sophomore left-hander Adam Tubbs return in the bullpen.

LOCAL CONNECTIONS
The 2023 ULM baseball roster includes six players who played high school baseball inside Ouachita (wah-shuh-tah) Parish. The roster includes three players from Sterlington High School in senior outfielder Jarrett McDonald, freshman infielder Seaver Sheets and sophomore left-handed pitcher Adam Tubbs; two players from West Monroe High School in junior infielder and right-handed pitcher Chase DeJean and junior infielder Carson Jones; and one player from Ouachita High School in sophomore right-handed pitcher Zach Shaw.

INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR
The 2023 ULM baseball roster features both a Canadian and an Australian. Pitcher Russell Derbyshire (Leamington, Ontario) represents Canada on the roster. It marks the sixth consecutive season ULM has had at least one Canadian on the roster. Pitcher Max Mrakovcic (Sydney, Australia) is the lone Australian on the roster.

ULM PICKED 11TH IN NEW LOOK SUN BELT CONFERENCE
The ULM baseball team was selected to finish 11th in the Sun Belt Conference in the preseason SBC Coaches' Poll, announced Feb. 8 by the SBC office.

The Warhawks finished with 58 points, sitting behind 10th-place James Madison at 73 points and ahead of App State at 43 points. Southern Miss earned 11 first-place votes and was picked to win the league with 192 points, ahead of Georgia Southern and Texas State, who tied for second. 

Seven different SBC programs were noted in at least one of the five major national preseason polls.

Southern Miss, which hosted a NCAA Baseball Regional and Super Regional a year ago, was ranked among the Top 25 in every major preseason poll. The Golden Eagles were listed as high as No. 18 by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and D1Baseball, while also earning nods in the USA Today Sports Baseball Coaches Preseason Poll (No. 19), the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Preseason Poll (No. 20) and the Baseball America Preseason Top 25 (No. 21). 
 
2022 NCAA Baseball Regional host Georgia Southern was also listed at No. 35 by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, which ranks the Top 50 teams in its preseason edition, and received votes in both the NCBWA and USA Today Sports Baseball Coaches preseason ledgers. 
 
The Sun Belt Conference fell one game short of sending a team to a Super Regional for the fourth and fifth time since 2014 a year ago—with both Coastal Carolina and Texas State reaching their respective regional finals. 
 
Both the Chanticleers and Bobcats received votes in all three preseason polls that publish a receiving votes category—Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, NCBWA and USA Today Sports Baseball Coaches. 
 
The Ragin' Cajuns, the Sun Belt's fourth postseason participant from 2022, earned preseason mention from both Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and NCBWA. 
 
Old Dominion—which was among the last four teams left out of last year's NCAA field—and Troy—which advanced to last year's Sun Belt Baseball Championship semifinals—received votes in the NCBWA preseason publication. 
 
The Sun Belt boasted the No. 6 conference RPI in the nation in 2022—trailing only the SEC, ACC, Big 12, Pac-12 and Conference USA. Four current Sun Belt programs were listed among the Top 30 in the final RPI in 2022—No. 20 Texas State, No. 22 Southern Miss, No. 25 Georgia Southern and No. 29 Coastal Carolina. 
 
No. 46 Old Dominion, No. 54 Ragin' Cajuns, No. 73 South Alabama, No. 97 Georgia State and No. 100 Troy gave the new-look Sun Belt nine teams among the Top 100 at the conclusion of the 2022 campaign. 
 
Sun Belt baseball programs have earned 18 NCAA berths over the past 10 seasons. 

BARLOW TO START OPENING DAY FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE SEASON
ULM head coach Michael Federico has decided to hand the ball to junior left-handed pitcher Cam Barlow to begin the 2023 season on Friday night vs. Bradley. Barlow enters his fifth season at ULM in 2023. He joined the club and redshirted the 2019 season and received a COVID-eligibility waiver for the 2020 season, leaving him as the longest tenured Warhawk. He has one more year of eligibility available for 2024.

Barlow started the series opener on the first 13 weekends of the 2022 season before sticking with his Friday spot in the final week of the regular season against Arkansas State. He made his first postseason appearance against Texas State in the Sun Belt Conference Championship quarterfinals on May 27. He suffered the loss against the Bobcats, allowing three runs, one earned, on four hits with one walk and eight strikeouts.

The Halls, Tennessee, native finished the 2022 season at 2-7 with a 5.14 ERA over 77 innings, allowing 53 runs, 44 earned, on 82 hits with 69 strikeouts and 31 walks. On May 20 vs. Arkansas State, he allowed five runs, all in the first inning, before settling down and grinding through 4 2/3 innings, allowing eight hits with two strikeouts and four walks. On May 13 at South Alabama, he allowed seven runs, five earned, on seven hits with six strikeouts and three walks. On April 29 at Little Rock, he allowed two runs on six hits with three strikeouts and one walk over 5 1/3 innings. On April 22 vs. App State, he allowed two runs on six hits with one walk and five strikeouts, suffering a tough-luck loss after throwing 5 2/3 innings in a 5-1 Warhawk loss. He pitched a career-high 7 1/3 innings and 100 pitches on April 8 vs. Troy, allowing six runs, four earned, on nine hits with four strikeouts and one walk. He took a no-decision in the March 25 5-3 win in 11 innings over Georgia State, pitching six innings while allowing three runs on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts. He earned back-to-back wins, throwing 5 2/3 innings March 18 at Coastal Carolina, allowing an unearned run on one hit with two strikeouts and a career-high six walks, but he induced three double play balls behind him to help get out of trouble. He gave up three runs in five innings for the win at Nicholls on March 11. He took a no-decision in last year's season-opener, throwing seven shutout innings, allowing two hits with one walk and six strikeouts against Southern Illinois on Feb. 18.

CRESSEND RETURNS TO SATURDAY ROLE TO OPEN 2023
ULM junior right-handed pitcher Cole Cressend returns to the rotation as the Saturday starter after finishing the 2022 season in that role. He appeared in 15 games with 12 starts, posting a 3-6 record with a 7.08 ERA over 61 innings, allowing 53 runs, 48 earned, on 66 hits with 40 strikeouts and 25 walks.

He made a weekend start in all 10 Sun Belt Conference series as well as a start against Georgia State at the Sun Belt Conference Championship, allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits with three strikeouts and three walks. He threw two perfect innings with two strikeouts in a designated short start vs. Arkansas State on May 21 to prepare for the SBC Championship single-elimination game. He allowed three runs on five hits with two walks and no strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings at South Alabama on May 14. He took a tough-luck loss, pitching a career-high seven innings, allowing three runs on five hits with a career-best eight strikeouts and two walks vs. No. 15 Texas State on May 7. He matched his career-high with six innings, allowing five runs, four earned, on seven hits with three strikeouts and one walk in a no-decision at the Ragin' Cajuns. He earned his second consecutive win, firing five innings, allowing two runs on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts at UT Arlington on April 2. He picked up the win, tossing six innings with two runs, one earned, on three hits with three strikeouts and one walk vs. Georgia State on March 26. He made his first career weekend start, throwing 4 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on six hits with one strikeout and two walks at Coastal Carolina on March 19. He earned his first career win with three shutout and hitless innings out of the bullpen, including two strikeouts and one walk vs. Northwestern State on March 9. He threw a career-high 4 2/3 innings at Ole Miss, allowing five runs on four hits with two strikeouts and four walks on March 2.

MENARD GETS FIRST SHOT AT SUNDAY SPOT
Junior left-handed pitcher Chipper Menard is set to make his ULM debut on Sunday against Bradley as the Warhawks' starting pitcher. The transfer from the Ragin' Cajuns, Menard transitions into a starting role after serving primarily as a reliever in Lafayette. As a sophomore in 2022, he made 26 appearances for the Cajuns, going 5-1 with three saves and a 4.48 ERA over 26 1/3 innings with 30 strikeouts and 11 walks. He faced ULM twice, throwing 2 1/3 combined shutout innings against his future team, allowing four hits with two strikeouts and a walk.

WARHAWK WALK-OFF
ULM picked up three walk-off wins last season.

ULM posted its only walk-off by run-rule of the season on May 11 vs. Jackson State. Ryan Cupit hit a 2-RBI single up the middle to put the Warhawks ahead 13-2 in the eighth inning, ending the contest. 

The Warhawks picked up their second walk-off of the year on April 20. In the 10th inning, junior Chase DeJean hit a sacrifice fly to deep left center, scoring Trace Henry to defeat McNeese, 4-3.

ULM senior Travis Washburn brought an end to the March 25 5-3 ULM win over Georgia State, hitting a 2-run walk-off home run to right field in the bottom of the 11th inning. It was his third home run of the season and capped a two-hit, three-RBI night for the junior.