MONROE – A strong pitching performance and clutch hitting were keys to a 4-1 win for the ULM baseball team against Houston Christian on Friday afternoon
 
The game started with a two-strikeout inning from Daniel Gonzalez to hold the Huskies (3-2) scoreless. The Warhawks (4-1) also came up empty in the bottom frame with two ground outs and a line-out to left field. The two teams were blanked again in the second.
 
HCU, with a home run by Rhett Hendricks, got on the board first with a 1-0 lead. Gonzalez recovered in the inning with two more strikeouts, bringing his total to six through three innings pitched. Parker Edwards struck out three Warhawks in the bottom of the third, continuing a perfect game through three.
 
After a three-up, three-down inning for Houston Christian, Isaiah Walker drew a walk and became the first base runner for ULM, but nothing more was done and it still trailed 1-0 heading into the fifth.
 
Bryce Blaser produced the first hit of the day for the Warhawks, but a double play got him out at second and a ground out ended the inning. The Huskies put a runner in scoring position in the top of the sixth with a stolen base but couldn't take advantage.
 
In the bottom of the inning, with Tony Lindwedel at second, Colby Lunsford ripped one through the left side and gave the Warhawks their first run of the afternoon.
 
ULM turned a double play in the top of the seventh to keep the game tied but failed to produce in the bottom half and the game remained tied going into the eighth. HCU came up empty after a one-two-three inning in the top half.
 
The Warhawks started the bottom of the eighth with a runner on first with two away. Michelle Artzberger was able to get on base after a throwing error by the shortstop, the only error of the game for both teams. After a hit-by-pitch walk loading the bases, Isaiah Walker drilled a bases-clearing triple through the right-field line and gave ULM its first lead of the afternoon.
 
Josh Gregoire entered to close the game out in the top of the ninth. Blaser started the inning with a diving catch for the first out. After a single by the Huskies, a double play by the Warhawks ended the game and secured a game-one victory.
 
Gonzalez ended the game with six innings pitched, collecting seven strikeouts and allowing just two hits. Zach Shae earned the win with two innings pitched, no hits allowed, and a strikeout. Walker, with his hit in the bottom of the eight, led with three RBI.
 
Game two of the weekend series starts at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22.