HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Madelyn England launched her first career home run while
Victoria Abrams,
Bristin Bordeau and
Gianni Hulett pitched a complete game shutout to secure the ULM softball team's (22-14, 5-4 Sun Belt) road sweep over Marshall (17-18, 3-6) with a 4-0 win in game three at Dot Hicks Field in Huntington, W.Va.
Lourdes Bacon started the game with a base hit to left field, but the Thundering Herd retired the next three batters to end the inning. Abrams punched out two Marshall batters in a perfect bottom of the first inning in the circle. In the bottom of the second, the Herd loaded the bases with one out. Abrams induced an inning-ending double play turned by third baseman
Layla Thompson to erase Marshall's scoring opportunity. The Warhawks carried the momentum on defense to the plate and scored a pair of runs in the third. With one out,
Elle Carter singled through the right side. Bacon followed with her second hit of the day to put Carter in scoring position.
Carys Platt lined a hit to center field that scored Carter from second base for ULM's first run. The Thundering Herd committed an error that allowed Bacon to score later in the inning to give ULM a 2-0 cushion after three.
Following two scoreless innings,
Brooklin Lippert singled with one out in the top of the sixth.
Madelyn England drove a 1-0 pitch down the left field line and over the wall for a two-run home run. It was the first home run in the Lake Charles native's career. Hulett pitched a scoreless sixth and a 1-2-3 seventh inning that completed the road conference sweep for ULM in West Virginia.
Bacon and Platt both finished with multi-hit games for the Warhawks with Platt adding a double. Lippert, England and Carter all collected hits for ULM. Abrams improved her record to 9-6 with the win after throwing 4.1 innings and allowing just four hits. Hulett shut the door for her third save of the season and surrendered one hit.
The last time ULM swept a conference opponent was the final weekend of April last season when ULM swept Georgia State in Monroe.
The Warhawks will complete their road trip on Tuesday (April 2) when ULM travels to nationally-ranked LSU. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. in Baton Rouge.
