By ULMWarhawks.com Online Columnist Paul Letlow
Freshman outfielder
Cardell Thibodeaux made a dashing debut for ULM baseball, punctuated by a walk-off catch at the wall to preserve a series win over Bradley.
Thibodeaux, who started all three games in left field, hit .444 with four stolen bases, four hits, a double, four walks, three RBIs and three runs scored.
"It feels like Christmas morning, as Coach likes to say," Thibodeaux told ULM's Mike Hammett in their postgame radio interview. "It's a brand new gift, a new journey, and I'm ready to take it on with all the trials and tribulations that I'll face. I'm ready for it."
The Acadiana High School product capped his opening weekend of college ball with a leaping catch at the wall to snare a possible three-run homer and preserve ULM's 8-4 win on Sunday.
"I just knew, if he hit it up, the wind was going to take it and I had to stay on it as long as possible and I have to know my range and where the fence is," Thibodeaux said. "There wasn't much I could do. I couldn't think too much because that's where things go wrong. It was just a reaction and all the glory to God."
ULM coach
Michael Federico batted Thibodeaux ninth in the order on Friday and Saturday, but bumped him up to fifth in the lineup for Sunday's game.
"That definitely boosted my confidence more than where I had it," Thibodeaux said. "It shows me that Coach Fed doesn't care about age or size. If you can play, he'll put you on the field. He'll put this team in the best position to win the game."
Menard on the mound: The transfer pitcher from Louisiana Lafayette passed his first test during a preseason interview session. Locals will appreciate his savvy adjustment.
Asked who he pitched for last season,
Chipper Menard said, "Lafayette," not UL or Louisiana.
"They got that out of me," he said with a chuckle.
The left-hander left a solid first impression in his inaugural ULM start on Sunday as he posted six-plus innings, allowing just two runs on two hits with two walks and six strikeouts. After surrendering a hit to lead off the game, Menard retired 17 consecutive Bradley hitters in order.
"I told them before the game, as soon as I get that first strike over, I'll be good to go," Menard said in his postgame radio interview. "Once I got that, it was going to be my game."
D1baseball.com's Kendall Rogers offered this scouring report on Menard prior to the season. "Menard is a hard-nosed lefty whose forte is commanding the zone with multiple offerings. He could have a great year if he fills up the zone."
Menard said he had success throwing his curve early against Bradley.
"Just flicking it in there early, big uphill swings on those guys and trying to get them to swing right through it," Menard said. "Late, I mixed in more of a slider and a changeup just to throw them off and show them something new."
Menard's performance validated the decision he made to transfer to ULM, where he's emerging as a valuable member of the weekend rotation.
"The guys down there have a great deal going on," Menard said during the preseason. "But I wanted to come somewhere I could learn more about pitching. There's three pitching coaches here, so I felt like I'd learn more here and be able to be developed with the style of coaching I'm drawn to."
Pen men: ULM enjoyed several stellar outings from its relief corps over the weekend.
Nicholas Judice and
Russell Derbyshire followed starter
Cam Barlow to preserve a shutout in Friday's 7-0 win. Judice tossed three crisp innings, giving up one hit with one walk and five strikeouts. Derbyshire recorded the final three outs in his ULM debut, picking a strikeout and a walk.
Freshman
Justin Robinson earned his first ULM save by tossing 1 2/3 innings out of the bullpen, allowing two walks with two strikeouts. Robinson extinguished the fire in the top of the eighth inning after a two-run home run narrowed the score to 5-4. With a runner on second base, Robinson struck out three-time All-Missouri Valley Conference first baseman Connor O'Brien and pinch-hitter Cal McGinnis to protect the lead.
Scattered hits: ULM stole nine bases in 11 attempts against Bradley. … Catcher
Matt Abshire had a strong opening weekend as he hit .571 (4-for-7), scored four runs and walked twice. Abshire delivered ULM's first hit on Sunday with a lead-off single in the fifth… Starting at second base and hitting second in the order,
Kade Dupont had a team-high three hits in his collegiate debut on Friday night. The red-shirt freshman from Live Oak High School finished the weekend hitting .333 with four hits, three runs and a stolen base. …. ULM plays its first midweek series of the season starting at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Mississippi State.
