Boone, N.C. – The ULM softball team (30-16, 10-5 Sun Belt) defeated App State (17-23, 7-8 Sun Belt) on Sunday afternoon (April 13) in Boone to clinch the win and the series, ULM's first Sun Belt series win on the road this season. After the Mountaineers found an early lead, ULM battled to find scores and held App State without a score for six innings.
A hard-fought seven innings started with a first-inning home run from App State's Leah Gore to set the 1-0 lead. After the Warhawks went 1-2-3 in the second, the Mountaineers worked to extend the lead, but three foul-outs left three runners on base.
Another scoreless inning came in the third for both teams, sending the one-run game to the fourth.
Morgan Brown hit a lead-off double, with
Maryssa Zenzen doubling to score Brown and tie the game at one run apiece. Another double from
Layla Thompson scored one more, handing ULM the lead. After a walk and a double put two in scoring position for the Mountaineers, two outs and a strikeout closed the fourth with the Warhawks ahead, 2-1.
Two singles from the Brown sisters in the fifth got them in scoring position, but ULM was unable to score. After a scoreless fifth, both teams battled in the sixth,
Cheyenne Jenkins stealing a base but three outs stranding her on base. Back-to-back singles for App State placed two runners on base, but ULM's fielding held them without a score.
Carys Platt led off with a single in the seventh, stealing second base and advancing to third from a ground-out. Platt went on to score the third run for the Warhawks from a
Meagan Brown sacrifice fly. While
Morgan Brown went on to double to right field, she was left on base.
With a two-run deficit, App State looked to walk off the Warhawks a clinch the series. A single and a walk put two runners on base,
Dakota Lake striking out a batter for the first out. An RBI single from Madison McIntyre closed the gap to one run yet again, runners in prime position to tie the game or find the lead.
Mimi Blackledge entered the circle to relieve Lake, as App State grounded into a double play to end the inning and clinch the series for ULM, 3-2.
Morgan Brown led the team with three hits, tying her career-high with two doubles on the day.
Meagan Brown,
Maryssa Zenzen and
Layla Thompson each tallied an RBI and
Brooklin Lippert,
Cheyenne Jenkins and
Carys Platt each stole a base.
Dakota Lake was credited with the win, striking out three batters and allowing two walks and a run.
Mimi Blackledge received the save, pitching the final outs of the contest. ULM wins the series over App State for the first time since 2017, defeating the Mountaineers in Boone for the first time since 2018 to take the lead of the previously-tied series. With this win, the Warhawks claim their 30
th win, having tallied 30+ wins in two-consecutive seasons, last achieved in 1997.
The Warhawks will return home to take on Georgia Southern, who sits at the top of the conference. ULM will host the Eagles starting on Thursday (April 17) at 6 p.m., continuing on Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at noon.
