MONROE, La. – Following a historic regular season in 2024, the ULM softball team is back in action on the road, opening the season in the Houston Classic, competing against the Lamar Cardinals in a double-header Friday (Feb. 7) at 1p.m. and 4 p.m. from the LU Softball Complex in Beaumont, Texas before traveling to Houston Christian for a 1 p.m. game on Saturday (Feb. 8) and completing the trip at Houston, taking on the Cougars at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday (Feb. 8) and 12:30 p.m. on Sunday (Feb. 9).

SERIES HISTORY VS. LAMAR –

The Warhawks will take on Lamar for the 29th and 30th meetings in the double-header, hoping to beat the Cardinals for the first time since 2017. ULM holds a 17-11 record against Lamar, the series dating back 42 years. The last two meetings came in 2018, where the Warhawks fell in extra innings twice during a doubleheader. When the two teams were Southland opponents, the first meeting came on April 29, 1983, with Lamar claiming the 4-2 win. 

SERIES HISTORY VS. HCU –

The Warhawks will take on Houston Christian for the 10th meeting on February 8, looking to continue a win streak after beating the Huskies in Monroe, 6-2, in 2023. The lone win for HCU in the series came in 2023 as well, falling in game one of a doubleheader, 1-4. ULM has not played at HCU since 2016, where they came away with a strong 11-6 win. 

SERIES HISTORY VS. HOUSTON –

The Warhawks will take on Houston for the eighth and ninth meetings on February 8, hoping to beat the Cougars for the first time since 2001, the first meeting between the two teams. ULM has not taken on Houston since 2019, in head coach Molly Fichtner's first year at the helm. In the most recent meeting, the Warhawks fell in Houston, 0-4, on Feb. 17, 2019.

PRESEASON HONORS –

Meagan Brown was named to the All-Sun Belt Team after receiving multiple honors at the conclusion of last season. The true freshman completed the 2024 season as one of the top freshman hitters in the Sun Belt. The outfielder started in 52 of 54 games, leading the Warhawks in slugging percentage, OBP, OPS, doubles, triples and home runs. She posted a batting average of .367, which led all freshmen in the league. 

Maddie Nichols made her mark in her sophomore season at ULM, making 33 appearances and 21 starts in the pitching circle. Nichols posted an 11-10 record with a 2.57 ERA, seventh in the Sun Belt. She posted five complete games, ranking third in the Sun Belt in opposing batting average and seventh in strikeouts.

LET'S TALK ABOUT LAST SEASON –

The Warhawks secured the highest number of Sun Belt wins in a single season (12) in program history and the most regular season wins since 1997 after going 31-23. ULM finished the regular season with a sweep at Georgia State and bounced back after dropping eight-straight conference games versus a trio of opponents in the top 75 RPI. After starting the season with a 14-5 record in February, ULM won seven-straight Sun Belt Conference games starting in late March after sweeping Marshall and Georgia Southern and winning the series opener at Troy. ULM's seven-game conference winning streak was its longest since the 2002 season.

GUESS WHO'S BACK –

ULM softball is bringing back 12 players for another season, including three of the top five batters from 2024. In the pitching circle is senior Victoria Abrams making the return for her fourth Warhawk season and sophomore Bristin Bordeau returning for her second season at ULM. Jacelyn Buck, Carys Platt and Layla Thompson all return for their senior seasons, with Buck logging nine extra-base hits, Platt recording 18 RBIs and Thompson tallying three home runs last season. Infielders Maryssa Zenzen, Elle Carter and Morgan Brown also return after stellar first seasons in Monroe. Carter posted 12 RBIs while making just five errors in the field at shortstop. Zenzen logged a .253 batting average, including four doubles. Brown's season ended early due to injury, but hit .410 while notching four home runs. To round out the returners, Brooklin Lippert and Georgia Polydoros return, with Lippert having hit .314 with 38 hits and 27 runs scored.

NEW ON THE BAYOU –

The Warhawks are bringing in nine newcomers to add to the 2025 team, including three freshmen and six transfers. At catcher, junior Kelsey Kovar and freshman Hollie Thomas will make their Warhawk debuts, with Kovar coming from Paris JC and Thomas coming from leading Liberty High School to a district title. In the pitching circle, ULM welcomes sophomore Dakota Lake, redshirt junior Chloe Randall and Texas Tech transfer Mimi Blackledge to the bayou. At infielder, junior Kennan Nunamaker, redshirt junior Reece Briggs and freshman Olivia Faggard join the team. To round out the newcomers, freshman Cheyenne Jenkins arrives to enter the outfield. 

LOOKING AHEAD –

The softball team will head closer to home for another tournament on the road, this time taking on Louisiana Tech and Arkansas in Ruston at the Louisiana Tech Classic. The Warhawks will take on Arkansas on Saturday (Feb. 15) at 1 p.m. and the Bulldogs at 7 p.m. The same will occur again on Sunday (Feb. 16).