MONROE, La. – The ULM softball team (22-10) hits the road for a midweek game, taking on in-state foe Southeastern Louisiana (22-8). First pitch against the Lions is scheduled for 5 p.m. The game will be available to stream on ESPN+ and live stats can be found at ulmwarhawks.com. Both teams are looking for a win this week to after successful conference openers.
SERIES HISTORY VS. SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA –
The Warhawks will be taking on the Lions for the 75th meeting between the two teams, playing in Hammond for the first time since 2023. ULM holds a 33-41 record against SELA, the first meeting coming in 1989, when the Warhawks defeated the Lions, 4-3, in Hattiesburg, Miss. Southeastern is currently on a two-game win streak against ULM, the last win for the Warhawks coming in 2022 in Monroe. ULM has not been able to defeat the Lions in Hammond since 2019, head coach Molly Fichtner's first season at the helm.
SCOUTING THE LIONS –
Southeastern boasts a 22-8 record this season, finding wins over UTSA, South Alabama, Iowa State, Army and Houston Christian, among others. Of their eight losses, four come from ranked opponents, having taken on LSU, Florida State and Texas A&M. The Lions lead the Southland in batting average (.325), hits (247), RBIs (166), shutouts (10) and slugging percentage (.458), also leading the nation in stolen bases with 105. Maria Detillier leads the team in batting average, home runs and RBIs, named Southland Hitter of the Week on March 2. Pitcher Macie LaRue has been named SLC Pitcher of the Week twice this season, posting a 7-0 record with a 1.80 ERA. The Lions were dubbed the favorites to win the Southland after reaching the NCAA Regionals last season with a 47-15 record.
OPENING SUN BELT PLAY –
For the second time since joining the Sun Belt in 2006, the Warhawks have claimed a sweep to open Sun Belt play, becoming one of three teams in the conference to go 3-0 in opening weekend. ULM has now claimed a 26-31 record in the Sun Belt opening series, a 10-8 record when opening SBC play at home.
LAST TIME OUT –
ULM snagged three wins over the weekend, opening Sun Belt play with a 3-0 record. The Warhawks swept Georgia State to become only the second ULM team to open conference play 3-0 since joining the Sun Belt in 2006. In the first game, a six-run second inning secured an early lead for the Warhawks, with a two-run homer coming from Morgan Brown. Cheyenne Jenkins stole home to clinch the seventh run of the game, completing the game with a 7-3 win.
On Saturday, the Warhawks walked off the win for the third time this season, the score coming from a Meagan BrownRBI double. While ULM scored two runs early, the Panthers scored three for the lead in the fifth. In the bottom of the seventh, Brown hit a double with two outs for the series win, 4-3.
The final game on Sunday maintained momentum for ULM, as an eight-run third inning created a deficit that Georgia State could not erase. Brooklin Lippert hit an in-park homer, with Meagan and Morgan Brown following that up with two consecutive home runs. A three-run fourth inning secured the run-rule win and the Sun Belt sweep, defeating the Panthers 14-4.
BACK-TO-BACK BOMBS –
On March 16 against Georgia State, twin sisters Meagan Brown and Morgan Brown hit back-to-back home runs to center field to extend the Warhawk lead. This is the second time this season that the sisters have done so, first occurring at Northwestern State (Feb. 26). Four other teams in the NCAA have had multiple back-to-back homers this season, but none have been achieved by sisters.
LOOKING AHEAD –
The softball team will be traveling to Lafayette this weekend, taking on the Ragin' Cajuns in the first conference series on the road. The Warhawks will face the Cajuns at 6 p.m. on Friday (March 21), 2 p.m. on Saturday (March 22) and at 2 p.m. on Sunday (March 23).
