HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The ULM softball team (28-15, 8-4 Sun Belt) went 1-2 in the conference series against Southern Miss (20-19, 7-4 Sun Belt), splitting the doubleheader on Saturday.
Game 2: Southern Miss 9, ULM 5
The Lady Eagles opened the scoring in the first inning with an RBI sacrifice fly and an RBI single for the 2-0 lead. After a scoreless second inning for both teams, the Warhawks posted a four-spot in the third inning.
Jacelyn Buck and
Carys Platt both singled to get on base,
Meagan Brown getting the two-RBI single to score them both and tie the game.
Morgan Brown singled to keep the momentum going, as
Maryssa Zenzen hit an RBI double to take the lead in the 3-2 ballgame. Another RBI single, this time from
Layla Thompson scored the fourth run for ULM in the third. After holding Southern Miss scoreless, ULM was looking to build on the momentum. A 1-2-3 fourth inning for the Warhawks gave the Lady Eagles the opportunity for their own four-spot.
Two RBI singles and a two-RBI triple swung the momentum in favor of the home team, making it a 4-6 contest after four innings. The Warhawks were held scoreless again in the fifth, with Southern Miss hitting two more RBI singles and a double to make it a 4-9 score.
Layla Thompson picked up another RBI on the sac fly for the fifth run, but the Lady Eagles remained ahead to clinch the series, 5-9.
Layla Thompson and
Meagan Brown both led with two RBIs apiece, Brown also snagging two hits and two runs as well. With the only extra-base hit,
Maryssa Zenzen had eight putouts, a run, a hit and an RBI.
Maddie Nichols was credited with the loss, pitching 3.2 innings.
Bristin Bordeau struck out a career-high three batters in her one-inning outing, with
Mimi Blackledge also seeing action in the circle, striking out two.
Game 3: ULM 12, Southern Miss 7
The Warhawks bounced back in the series finale, tallying a whopping 15 hits and scoring 12 runs. Back-to-back singles from
Brooklin Lippert and
Meagan Brown set up
Morgan Brown to pick up an RBI off a ground-out for the lead.
Hollie Thomas scored the second runner on the sacrifice fly for the 2-0 lead in the first. The Warhawks held Southern Miss scoreless and continued to lay it on, as
Meagan Brown picked up an RBI from the fielder's choice, Carys Playy scoring the third run.
A scoreless second for the Lady Eagles gave ULM the chance to keep it up, as
Layla Thompson shot a two-run homer to center field for the 5-0 lead after three innings. But Southern Miss would not be denied, as three RBI-singles and a walk with the bases loaded tied the game up 5-5 in the fourth.
The Warhawks looked to gain back the lead in the fifth,
Jacelyn Buck singling and Thompson scoring off the error. A wild pitch brought two more Warhawks across home plate for the 8-5 lead.
Reece Briggs and
Layla Thompson both hit two-RBI doubles as well to turn a tied game to a seven-run lead for ULM. A scoreless sixth for both teams brought forth the final inning, a two-RBI single from Hannah Christian making it a five-run deficit for Southern Miss. Three outs ended the late rally, however, as ULM found the win, 12-5.
Elle Carter and
Carys Platt led the team with three hits apiece, both players tying their career highs. Platt also stole both of ULM's bases in the game.
Layla Thompson drove home a career-high four RBIs, along with two hits and two runs scored.
Reece Briggs hit two of the four doubles in the contest.
Dakota Lake is credited with the win, pitching four innings and allowing three walks, striking out two batters.
Victoria Abrams saw three innings in the circle, allowing four walks and three earned runs, also posting a strikeout.
ULM Softball will remain on the road next weekend, traveling east to take on App State in Boone, N.C. The Warhawks and the Mountaineers will face off for the weekend starting on Friday (April 11) at 5 p.m. CT.
