JONESBORO, Ark. -- The ULM baseball team (11-15, 1-6 Sun Belt) could not overcome an early 4-1 deficit and fell 4-3 in the series opener versus Arkansas State (12-13, 3-4) on Friday (March 28) night at Tomlinson Stadium in Jonesboro, Ark.

ULM grabbed an early 1-0 lead after Isaiah Walker doubled to start the game and later scored on an RBI groundout by Michelle Artzberger. The Red Wolves quickly responded in the bottom of the first inning when Patrick Engskov hit a 2-RBI single, and Daedrick Cail added another RBI single to give Arkansas State an early 3-1 lead. In the second inning, Cross Jumper's RBI single increased the Red Wolves' lead to 4-1 as Jake French crossed the plate. Walker walked to start the top of the third, but was stranded at third base following three groundouts. ULM starting pitcher Landon Grigg settled in and tossed a 1-2-3 bottom of the third inning, and A-State led 4-1 through three.

ULM responded in the fourth inning when Kade Dupont registered his second hit of the game on an RBI single that scored Jake Haggard, cutting the A-State lead to 4-2. Grigg worked around a leadoff single by the Red Wolves and kept A-State off the scoreboard. Henry Garcia Jr. walked and Artzberger singled with two outs in the fifth before Arkansas State relief pitcher Jelle van der Lelie recorded the last out and the Warhawks stranded two runners. A double play turned by Haggard and Angelo Aleman ended the fifth inning of work from Grigg. Dupont singled for the third time of the game in the sixth with two outs. Grigg completed his sixth inning of work and tossed his fourth consecutive scoreless frame and the Warhawks still trailed 4-2 after six.

Walker singled to start the seventh. On the next play, Walker stole second and then scored on two throwing errors by the Red Wolves, making it a 4-3 game. Zach Shaw pitched a strikeout and a fly out and stranded two runners in scoring position for Arkansas State, keeping it a one-run game. Aleman was hit by a pitch in the eighth inning before the last out was recorded on a fly out. Shaw sat down the Red Wolves in order in the eighth and ULM had one last chance in the top of the ninth to extend the game. Chase Richter closed the door with three-straight outs and earned the save, giving the home team the first game of the series.

Dupont finished 3-for-4 with one RBI while Walker went 2-for-4 with a double and scored a pair of runs and stole two bases. Haggard contributed ULM's other extra-base hit with a double in the fourth that led to a run. Grigg took the loss for the Warhawks after pitching six innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on nine hits. He struck out two batters and walked one. Shaw threw two scoreless frames out of the bullpen, allowing one hit and striking out one.

Game two of ULM's road series at Arkansas State is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday (March 29) night.