BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The ULM softball team posted a pair of wins Saturday to improve to 3-1 in the Green & Gold Classic. Madison Blount's two-run double and Campbell Selman's two-run homer highlighted a four-run third as the Warhawks outlasted host UAB, 6-3, in Game 1 while Ashlan Ard's two-run triple and Kennedy Johnson's solo blast powered ULM past Cleveland State, 5-1, in Game 2.
 
"It was a great day for us," ULM head coach Molly Fichtner said. "We arguably hit the ball harder today, than we have all year. I'm very proud of our performance at the plate. Our pitchers did a great job minimizing damage with runners in scoring position. (Campbell Selman) Selly had an incredible day at shortstop."
 
ULM concludes the Green & Gold Classic with a rematch against UAB at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 26.
 
"Tomorrow is Championship Sunday as we take on UAB again," Fichtner. "They're going to come out ready to play, so we need to make sure we attack early and get some momentum right away."
 
Game 1 Recap: ULM 6, UAB 3
Madison Blount and Campbell Selman each drove in a pair of runs during a four-run third inning to lead ULM to a 6-3 victory over UAB Saturday to start Day 2 of the Green & Gold Classic.
 
After leaving four runners on base through the first two innings, ULM (9-7) put a crooked number up on the scoreboard against UAB starter Leigha Kirby in the top of the third. Kennedy Johnson opened the frame with a single to left center and Ashlan Ard reached on a fielding error by the first baseman. After a sacrifice bunt by Madelyn Fletcher, Blount delivered a two-run double that scored Johnson and Ard as the Warhawks took a 2-0 lead. Two batters later, Selman hit her first home run of the season, a two-run blast to left field, as ULM built a 4-0 advantage.
 
ULM starting pitcher Victoria Abrams retired eight of the first nine batters she faced and didn't allow a hit until there were two outs in the bottom of the third when Lauren Brock singled to center field.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Sierra Frazier reached after being hit by a pitch. After a sacrifice bunt, Frazier scored on an infield single to shortstop by Lindsey Smith for UAB's first run of the game. Smith later scored on a wild pitch as the Blazers cut their deficit in half at 4-2. With a runner at third and only one out, Selman turned in a defensive gem, cutting down Alyssa Aguilar at the plate while trying to score on a ground ball to shortstop.
 
The Warhawks took advantage of a couple of UAB errors in the top of the fifth, scoring twice on only one hit. With one out, Fletcher singled to center field and Blount reached on a throwing error by the third baseman. With two outs, Fletcher and Blount both scored as the second baseman misplayed a line drive off Selman's bat as ULM moved out to a 6-2 lead.
 
UAB (8-6) answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Bella Wiggins drew an eight-pitch walk to open the frame, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Brock greeted Warhawk reliever Adrianna Chavarria with an RBI infield single to second base that scored Wiggins as the Blazers pulled to within 6-3. Chavarria, who allowed another base hit in the inning, stranded two runners by getting a groundout and a swinging strikeout.
 
The Blazers got back-to-back singles from Aguilar and Kaily Collett to lead off the bottom of the sixth, but Chavarria retired the next three batters in a row to end the scoring threat.
 
UAB loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but once again, Chavarria slammed the door. With one out, Frazier singled to center field and Lilly Crowe followed with an infield single to second base. Chavarria struck out pinch hitter Allyson Smith swinging, then issued a nine-pitch walk to Aguilar to load the bases. With the potential game-winning run at plate, Selman charged a slow roller off the bat of Collett and gunned her down at first base to end the game.
 
ULM and UAB each produced eight hits, but the Blazers left 10 base runners.
 
Three Warhawks collected two hits each, including Fletcher (2-for-3), Blount (2-fo-4) and Selman (2-for-3).
 
Abrams (2-1) pitched four-plus innings and allowed three runs on two hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
 
Chavarria, who pitched three scoreless innings in relief, picked up her first save of the season and her first since 2021. She permitted six hits and a walk but stranded seven base runners over the final three innings. Chavarria also recorded two strikeouts.
 
Kirby (0-4) went three innings and surrendered four runs, only one earned, on five hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Olivia Valbak threw the last four innings and allowed two runs on two hits.
 
Game 2 Recap: ULM 5, Cleveland State 1
Ashlan Ard tripled in a pair of runs in the first inning and Kennedy Johnson hit a solo home run in the third as ULM defeated Cleveland State, 5-1, Saturday afternoon. The start of the game was delayed by rain for one hour and 20 minutes.
 
It marked ULM's second win over the Vikings in the Green & Gold Classic as the Warhawks opened the tournament with a 10-2 victory over CSU Friday.
 
After ULM starting pitcher Kassidy Giddens worked around a one-out walk in the top of the first, the Warhawk offense went to work in the bottom of the frame. With one away, Kennedy Johnson singled up the middle and Madelyn Fletcher followed with a single that sent Johnson to third. Ard recorded the Warhawks' third-straight hit, a two-run triple, scoring Johnson and Fletcher. Ard, who advanced to third on a throw to the plate, scored on Madison Blount's RBI groundout to second base to give ULM an early 3-0 lead.
 
Cleveland State had its first scoring opportunity in the top of the third. Jenna Deang reached on an infield single to second base to open the inning and advanced to third after a sacrifice bunt and passed ball. With two outs, Gianni Hulett replaced Kassidy Giddens in the circle and induced a groundout from Becky Hurosky.
 
Johnson led off the bottom of the third inning with a solo blast to center field as the Warhawks built a 4-0 advantage. It marked her second home run of the tournament against CSU pitching. Johnson hit a two-run bomb in the first inning of Friday's game.
 
The Vikings threatened again in the fourth. With one out, CSU got consecutive singles from Emma Gilkerson and Peyton Mueller-Stenz. With runners at first and third and two away, Fletcher threw out Gilkerson at home while trying to score on a ground ball off the bat of Kiera Frascone.
 
ULM (10-7) added another run in the bottom of the fourth off CSU reliever Melissa Holzopfel to extend its lead to 5-0. With one out, pinch hitter Madelyn England walked on four-straight pitches and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Lourdes Bacon followed with an RBI single, scoring England.
 
Cleveland State (1-7) scratched out its only run in the top of the fifth as four consecutive batters reached base. Meridith Rankl recorded the Vikings' third-straight hit, an RBI single, that scored Brooke Albaugh, who was hit by a pitch earlier in the inning.
 
The Vikings outhit ULM, 7-6. Johnson (2-for-3) recorded her fifth multi-hit game of the season while Bacon (1-for-3) extended her hitting streak to six-straight games.
 
Kassidy Giddens went 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowed one hit with three walks and two strikeouts. Hulett (2-1), who retired the side in order in both the sixth and seventh, pitched 4 1/3 innings in relief and permitted one run on six hits.
 
Jenkins (0-3) threw three innings and surrendered four runs on five hits with one walk and one strikeout.