Kennedy Johnson batting against HCU in the 2023 Best On the Bayou Classic.
Dezmond Jackson
7
Winner ULM ULM 11-7
0
UAB UAB 10-7
Winner
ULM ULM
11-7
7
Final
0
UAB UAB
10-7
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
ULM ULM 0 0 0 0 0 3 4 7 11 1
UAB UAB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1

W: Hulett, Gianni (3-1) L: Cespedes, S. (4-3)

Game Recap: Softball |

ULM Softball Wins Third Straight; Dominates UAB, 7-0

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Victoria Abrams, Adrianna Chavarria and Gianni Hulett combined for a six-hit shutout and Campbell Selman provided a bases-clearing double in the sixth inning as ULM closed out the Green & Gold Classic with a 7-0 victory over host UAB Sunday at Mary Bowers Field. The Warhawks closed out the three-day tournament with three-straight wins to finish with a 4-1 record.
 
"It was a heck of an all-around effort today from the team," ULM head coach Molly Fichtner said. "It was a group effort on the mound from Vic, Rocky, and Gianni. Coach (Lea) Wodach said it best, 'A pitcher shut out is great, but a staff shut out is even better.' They got out of some huge innings and made great pitches when it mattered most. (Campbell Selman) Selly came up with a huge two-out bases-clearing double to get some offensive momentum going for us. And then our bats got hot and we continued to put runners on base."
 
The game remained scoreless through five innings. ULM managed two hits against UAB starting pitcher Sarah Cespedes through the first five innings but left four base runners. The Blazers collected six hits over the same period but stranded eight base runners.
 
Early in the game, the Warhawk pitchers benefitted from a couple of defensive gems. On Bella Wiggins' single to center field in the bottom of the second inning, Lourdes Bacon threw Kaily Collett, who attempted to score from second base, out at home plate. Two innings later, Bacon made a charging grab of a fly ball off the bat of Lauren Brock and doubled Hannah Miles off second base to end the inning while stranding two base runners.
 
After Cespedes retired the first two batters in the top of the sixth, Ashlan Ard drew a four-pitch walk and advanced to third on Madison Blount's double to left center. Next, Korie Kreps coaxed a five-pitch walk to load the bases. Campbell Selman connected on Cespedes' first pitch, driving it off the base of the wall in left-center field and clearing the bases as ULM (11-7) seized a 3-0 lead.
 
The Warhawks added four insurance runs in the seventh. With one out, Lourdes Bacon reached on an infield single and advanced all the way to third on a throwing error by the third baseman. Kennedy Johnson reached on an RBI bunt single, scoring Bacon from third for a 4-0 advantage, and stole second. Madelyn Fletcher followed with an RBI single to left field that scored Johnson from second. Ard reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second a passed ball. Blount singled through the left side of the infield that scored Ard from second and extended the ULM lead to 6-0. Kreps walked and Selman followed with an infield single to shortstop to load the bases. Next, Madelyn Fletcher came through with an RBI single to left field as the Warhawks' built a commanding 7-0 lead. ULM sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning and recorded six hits.
 
Hulett retired UAB (10-7) in order in the seventh to secure the Warhawks' second win over the Blazers in the tournament. Selman made a specular running grab near the left-field foul line for the second out of the inning.
 
ULM outhit the Blazers, 11-6. Bacon (2-for-3), Blount (2-for-3) and Selman (2-for-4) each produced two hits for the Warhawks.
 
Hulett, who scattered two hits over four innings of relief, picked up the win to improve to 3-1 on the season. She issued no walks and recorded one strikeout. Hulett retired 11 of the last 12 batters she faced.
 
Abrams started and allowed one hit in 2/3 of an inning before leaving the game with an injury. Chavarria threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief while surrendering three hits and three walks to go along with one strikeout.
 
Cespedes (4-3) pitched a complete game and permitted seven runs, four earned, on 11 hits with six walks and three strikeouts.
 
The Warhawks return home to face Abilene Christian in a midweek game on Wednesday, March 1 at 6 p.m. before traveling to Thibodeaux, Louisiana, for a three-game series against Nicholls on Friday, March 3 (single game at 6 p.m.) and Saturday, March 4 (doubleheader at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.).
 
"We are looking forward to a day off tomorrow and getting a good practice in on Tuesday before welcoming ACU on Wednesday night," Fichtner said. "We have some things to keep improving on as our schedule becomes more challenging."
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