TROY, Ala. – ULM led in both contests in Saturday's doubleheader, but Troy rallied for a pair of wins, 7-5 and 4-3, to sweep the doubleheader and the series at Riddle-Pace Field.
In game one, ULM (8-17 overall, 0-6 Sun Belt Conference) built a 3-0 lead through two innings as a
Cardell Thibodeaux's sacrifice fly in the first inning scored
Shawn Dalton Weatherbee, and
Carson Jones' RBI single in the second inning plated
Travis Washburn before a wild pitch later in the inning allowed Jones to score for the 3-0 lead. ULM loaded the bases with one out in the third inning, but failed to add to the lead.
Caleb Bartolero hit a 2-run home run in the fourth inning for Troy (17-7, 3-3). Shane Lewis' sacrifice fly to score Kyle Mock in the fifth tied the game at 3. Troy then erupted for four runs in the sixth inning as Matt Mercer hit an RBI single and Lance Gardiner connected for a 2-RBI double with a third run, scored by Mercer, came home on an error on the play as Troy went ahead 7-3.
ULM got two runs back in the seventh inning.
Cardell Thibodeaux hit a bunt single to third. A throwing error on the play allowed
Kade Dupont to score. With the bases loaded,
Matt Abshire was hit by a pitch to drive in
Jake Haggard to get within two, 7-5.
Weatherbee had three hits to lead ULM with Haggard had two hits. Ethan Kavanagh had three hits to pace Troy, while Kole Myers and Caleb Bartolero had two hits apiece.
On the mound, Troy reliever Ben Thompson threw five innings, allowing two runs on four hits with three walks and nine strikeouts to earn his second win. Noah Manning threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings to close out the game and earn the save.
Carson Orton (1-3) suffered the loss, giving up five runs on five hits in two-plus innings.
In game two, ULM struck first with three runs in the fourth inning. Thibodeaux's RBI double scored Weatherbee and Haggard followed with a 2-run home run for the 3-0 lead.
Troy answered in the bottom of the inning as Hudson Hartsfield's RBI triple plated Bartolero and Brooks Bryan's RBI fielder's choice allowed Hartsfield to score to cut the gap to 3-2.
The game was then scoreless to the seventh inning when Kyle Mock hit the go-ahead 2-run home run to right for the 4-3 lead.
ULM had five total hits coming from five different players, led by Haggard's two RBIs. Hartsfield had three hits to lead Troy.
Reliever Kristian Asbury (2-0) earned the win for Troy, throwing 2 1/3 shutout innings with one hit, one walk and five strikeouts. Brandon Schrepf recorded the final two outs for his first save.
Steve Owings (0-2) took the loss in relief, allowing two runs on three hits with two strikeouts in three innings.
ULM returns to action at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Central Arkansas.
