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Red-Hot ULM Returns Home for 3-Game Weekend Series Against McNeese

Red-Hot ULM Returns Home for 3-Game Weekend Series Against McNeese

Softball Mar 10
MONROE, La. – Fresh from its 3-1 extra-innings victory at Louisiana Tech Tuesday night, the ULM softball team (15-8) returns home for a three-game weekend series against McNeese (13-8), beginning with a single game on Friday, March 10 at 6 p.m., followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, March 11 with games at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
 
The Warhawks, who have won two in a row and seven of their last eight games, are playing their fifth consecutive game against an in-state rival. The Cowgirls are 3-3 in their last six games, including back-to-back road losses to nationally ranked opponents: at No. 9 Texas, 4-0, and at No. 24 Louisiana Lafayette, 6-2.  
 
Friday's game marks the 85th meeting between ULM and McNeese. The Warhawks lead the all-time series 47-37; however, McNeese has won the last seven meetings in a row, including three straight at the ULM Softball Complex. Last season, the Cowgirls swept the regular-season series, winning 7-5 in Lake Charles on March 29 and 3-0 in Monroe on April 27. ULM's last win in the series came on Feb. 15, 2017, 3-0 in Lake Charles.
 
"When we left Nicholls last Saturday, I told them that the in-state battle continues this week," ULM head coach Molly Fichtner said. "We took two out of three at Nicholls, which was great, and we took one from Tech Tuesday night. Now, we're looking at McNeese, and this series brings a lot of personal excitement for me because we haven't beaten them (0-6) since I became head coach at ULM. I can't wait to play them this weekend."
 
Four Warhawks are batting above .290, led by Lourdes Bacon (.359; 28-of-78, 11 runs scored, 9 RBI), followed by Kennedy Johnson (.338; 22-of-65, 18 runs scored, 11 RBI), Madelyn Fletcher (.292; 14-of-48, 10 RBI) and Ashlan Ard (.291; 16-of-55).
 
Bacon, who has hit safely in 11 of the last 12 games, leads the team in hits (28), on-base percentage (.398), stolen bases (14) and multi-hit games (7). The junior from San Antonio, Texas, ranks fourth in the Sun Belt Conference in both hits and stolen bases. She also is listed among the NCAA Division I leaders in hits (tied at No. 32) and steals (No. 17). Bacon had a team-best nine-game hitting streak snapped in Game 1 of last Saturday's doubleheader at Nicholls,
 
Johnson, who leads the Warhawks in runs scored (18) and total bases (33), has recorded six multi-hit games. She ranks second on the team in slugging percentage (.508) and on-base percentage (.386). Johnson is hitting .412 (7-of-17) with three RBI over her last five games.
 
Ard leads the team in home runs (3), RBI (16) and slugging percentage (.527). She posted her third multi-hit game of the season at LA Tech, finishing 2-for-4 including a two-run homer in the ninth that proved to be the game-winner.
 
As a team, ULM leads the Sun Belt and ranks No. 16 in the NCAA Division I with its .980 fielding percentage.
 
Three pitchers – Gianni Hulett (6-1, 2.17 ERA, 27 strikeouts), Adrianna Chavarria (4-1, 2.37 ERA, team-leading 28 strikeouts) and Victoria Abrams (2-2, 2.88 ERA, 25 strikeouts) – have combined to throw 131 1/3 innings.
 
Hulett, who leads the Sun Belt in strikeouts-to-walks ratio (9.0; 27 strikeouts, 3 walks), also ranks second in the conference and fourth in the NCAA Division I with four saves. In her last six appearances, she sports an ERA of 1.15 while allowing four earned runs on 18 hits over 24 1/3 innings with one walk and 13 strikeouts. Hulett has posted five wins – all in relief – to go along with a save during that six-game stretch.
 
ULM's 2023 roster features 11 players (of 23) from Louisiana.
 
McNeese ranks among the Southland Conference leaders in three offensive categories: batting average (third at .274), doubles (third with 22) and slugging percentage (third at .380).
 
The Cowgirls' lineup features two players hitting better than .300, including Chloe Gomez (.339; 20-of-59, 5 doubles, 25 total bases) and Alayis Seneca (.308; 16-of-52, 19 total bases).
 
McNeese's pitching duo of Whitney Tate (5-1, 1.88 ERA, team-leading 36 strikeouts) and Ashley Vallejo (4-6, 3.31 ERA, 33 strikeouts) have combined to throw 97 innings while compiling a combined record of 9-7. The Cowgirls are listed among the Southland leaders in shutouts (second with 5) and earned-run average (third at 2.64).
 
General admission tickets are priced at $10 for adults and $5 for youth (ages 4-12) and may be purchased at the arched entrance to the ULM Softball Complex.
 
 
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