MONROE, La. – The ULM softball team (22-10, 3-0 Sun Belt) claimed a dominant 14-4 win over the Georgia State Panthers (8-21, 0-3 Sun Belt) in five innings on Sunday afternoon (March 16) at the ULM Softball Complex, sweeping Georgia State to open conference play. An eight-run third inning set things in stone for the Warhawks, with an in-park homer and two home runs coming back-to-back-to-back. ULM swept the Panthers in the first series sweep of the season, the last also coming against Georgia State last season. This is also the first time since 2015 that the Warhawks have swept a conference opponent in the opening series, the second time since joining the Sun Belt in 2006.
The first inning showed the Warhawks would have hot bats on Sunday. After a scoreless half inning for Georgia State, ULM picked up two walks to get two players on base. A triple to right center from
Morgan Brown picked up the first two runs for the home team.
Maryssa Zenzen came just after Brown, grounding out but scoring Brown to snag the RBI.
The Panthers hit hard straight out the gate in the second, Jordan Rayner hitting a home run to get Georgia State on the board. A scoreless second for ULM held the score at 3-1. A strikeout for
Maddie Nichols and two putouts held the Panthers at one score in the third, but the Warhawks were ready to extend their lead.
Morgan Brown hit the lead-off single, advancing to scoring position after a throwing error. With two outs on the board, a walk and a wild pitch brought the first run of the inning. Two more runs were scored with a
Carys Platt single, making it a 6-1 tally.
Brooklin Lippert tripled to center field for to score two, but an error made it an in-park homer, as the tally became nine for the Warhawks.
Meagan Brown was up to bat next, hitting a home run back to center field to add to the lead. ULM was not finished just yet, as
Morgan Brown followed up with another homer, closing the inning out with a 11-1 score.
Georgia State responded in the fourth, with Ciarra Jefferson hitting a three-run homer to left field, closing the deficit to seven. The Warhawks maintained their hot bats in the fourth, as two hit-by-pitch walks, a wild pitch and a single ran up the score for ULM's 12
th run. A sacrifice fly and another wild pitch added two more to the tally, making it a 10-run gap in the home team's favor. A strikeout and two ground-outs in the top of the fifth closed the game and secured the run-rule win for the Warhawks, extending their undefeated streak at home to 15.
Morgan Brown led the team with three RBIs, three hits and three runs scored.
Meagan Brown, Lippert and Platt all posted two RBIs apiece, scoring two runs each as well.
Maddie Nichols was credited with the win, striking out four batters and allowing one hit and three runs across three innings.
Bristin Bordeau also saw action in the circle, pitching one inning and allowing a hit, a run, no walks and striking out a batter.
ULM Softball will hit the road this week for a midweek matchup, taking a shot at in-state foe Southeastern Louisiana. The Warhawks will face the Lions on Wednesday, March 19, with first pitch in Hammond scheduled for 5 p.m.
