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ULM Softball Travels to West Coast for Wilson Invitational

ULM Softball Travels to West Coast for Wilson Invitational

Softball Feb 17
MONROE, La. – The ULM softball team, which compiled a 5-2 record during its season-opening homestand, travels to Long Beach, California, to play five games this weekend (Feb. 17-19) in the Wilson Invitational.  The other participants in the field – Cal (5-1), UC Davis (5-1) and tournament host Long Beach State (3-4) – have a combined record of 13-6 in 2023.
 
The Warhawks will play a pair of games at the LBSU Softball Complex on Friday, first against Cal (5-1) at 3 p.m. CT/1 p.m. PT, followed by UC Davis (5-1) at 5:30 p.m. CT/3:30 p.m. PT. On Saturday, ULM has a rematch scheduled against UC Davis at 12 p.m. CT/10 a.m. PT. The Warhawks will conclude the weekend with a split doubleheader on Sunday against Cal at 12 p.m. CT/10 a.m. PT, followed host Long Beach State at 2:30 p.m. CT/12:30 p.m. PT.
 
"This weekend is going to be an unbelievable experience for our team to match up with some West Coast competition," fifth-year ULM head coach Molly Fichtner said. "We look forward to playing three very good programs, including Cal twice. I told the team that each one of them is going to be giving us their best game, so they need to be ready to go."
 
This weekend's Wilson Invitation is a homecoming of sorts for ULM infielder Alexis Chavez, who grew up in Riverside, a little over an hour away from Long Beach. Through seven games, Chavez is one of three Warhawks in the everyday lineup that is batting over .300 at .318 (7-of-22) with two doubles and two RBI.
 
"This is going to be a home trip for Lex," Fichtner said. "It will be great for all of her friends and family to be able to come watch us play."
 
Lourdes Bacon (.417, 10-of-24) and Kennedy Johnson (.409, 9-of-22) rank 1-2 on the team in batting average. Bacon is tied for first in the Sun Belt Conference and ranks No. 11 in the NCAA Division I with 10 hits while Johnson is listed third in the league and No. 22 nationally with nine hits.
 
As a team, ULM leads the Sun Belt and ranks No. 12 in the NCAA in stolen bases per game at 2.86. Bacon, who leads the running game, leads the conference and ranks second in the nation with eight steals.
 
The depth of the Warhawk pitching staff has been showcased early this spring. Gianni Hulett, who leads ULM with five appearances, has recorded two saves to go along with her team-low 1.58 earned-run average. In addition, Hulett leads the NCAA in strikeout-to-walk ratio at 7-to-0.
 
Victoria Abrams (1-0, 1.75 ERA) leads the pitching staff with three starts, followed by Kassidy Giddens (1-1, 2.17 ERA) with two starting assignments. Adrianna Chavarria (2-0, 2.42 ERA) leads the Warhawks with 10 strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings.
 
Here's a glance at the rest of the Wilson Invitational field:
 
Cal opened the season with a 5-1 record in the Easton Classic, outscoring its opponents, 54-22, in the first six games. As a team, the Bears rank among the NCAA Division I leaders in scoring (10th at 9.0 runs per game), home runs (10th at 1.67 pg.), doubles (28th with 9) and batting average (36th at .331). Cal's lineup features three .400 hitters, in Sophie Madellin (.417, 5-of-12; 2 HR, 6 RBI), Makena Smith (.412, 7-of-17; 5 RBI) and Kennedy Thomas (.412, 7-of-17). Tianna Bell (.278, 5-of-18) ranks among the nation's leaders in home runs (sixth with 3) and RBI (ninth with 9).
 
Haylei Archer (2-0, 1 save), who leads the NCAA with her 0.00 ERA, has allowed two unearned runs in 10 2/3 innings. Anna Reimers (1-0, 3.36 ERA) is another force to be reckoned with in the circle.
 
UC Davis also is off to a 5-1 start this spring, including a 4-0 record in one-run games. The Aggies' batting order features four .300 hitters, including Sarah Nakahara (.357, 5-of-14), Leah Polson (.333, 7-of-21), Sarah Starks (.333, 6-of-18; 4 runs scored, 2 2B) and Sommer Kisling (.333, 5-of-15).
 
Pitcher Kenedi Brown (3-1, 2.63 ERA) headlines the UC Davis pitching staff while producing a team-leading 10 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings. Sarah Reineman (1-0, 0.58 ERA) and Taylor Fitzgerald (1-0, 1.00 ERA) have accounted for the team's other two victories.  
 
Long Beach State (3-4 overall) went 2-3 in the season-opening Arizona Candrea Classic in Tucson, including a pair of losses to No. 12 Arizona, before splitting a midweek doubleheader against San Diego (won Game 1, 1-0; lost Game 2, 3-2).
 
As a team, the Beach is hitting .277 with four players above .350, including Corissa Sweet (.412, 7-of-17; 2 2B), Cassie Camou (.400, 4-of-10; 3 RBI), Sara Olson (.375, 9-of-24; 5 runs scored, 12 total bases) and Carly Robbins (.368, 7-of-19; 4 RBI).
 
Samantha Fowler (1-1, 3.07 ERA) helps anchor a talented LBSU pitching staff. Fowler, who has recorded 15 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings, had nine Ks in a 4-2 win over N.C. State in the Arizona Candrea Classic. Last season, she posted a 14-7 record with a 2.91 ERA and 128 strikeouts.
 
Shannon Haddad, who missed more than one and a half seasons while rehabbing from an injury, is 2-0 with a 3.23 ERA and two complete games, including a shutout. Haddad was selected 2021 Big West Freshman of the Year after going 8-0 with a 2.05 ERA.
 
The Wilson Invitational features a total of eight games at the LBSU Softball Complex during the three-day weekend schedule.
 
Friday, Feb. 17
3 p.m. CT / 1 p.m. PT – Cal vs. ULM
5:30 p.m. CT / 3:30 p.m. PT – UC Davis vs. ULM
8 p.m. CT / 6 p.m. PT – Cal vs. Long Beach State
 
Saturday, Feb. 18
12 p.m. CT / 10 a.m. PT – ULM vs. UC Davis
2:30 p.m. CT / 12:30 p.m. PT – UC Davis vs. Cal
5 p.m. CT / 3:00 p.m. PT – Cal vs. Long Beach State
 
Sunday, Feb. 19
12 p.m. CT / 10 a.m. PT – ULM vs. Cal
2:30 p.m. CT / 12:30 p.m. PT – ULM vs. Long Beach State
 
 
 
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