MONROE, La. – The ULM baseball team opens the season this weekend, hosting Central Arkansas at Lou St. Amant Field for a four-game series from February 13 through 15. While the game will not be available for streaming, a radio broadcast will be available on KMLB.com for all four games and live stats will be found at ulmwarhawks.com/stats.

SERIES HISTORY – 

ULM Baseball will be facing the Bears for the ninth time in program history, looking to create a string of victories after the Warhawks defeated UCA last season, 8-1. With a 2-6 series record, both wins have come in Conway, ULM still looking to defeat Central Arkansas at Lou St. Amant Field. The last time the Bears came to Monroe was in 2024, an 11-4 defeat. 

SCOUTING THE BEARS –

The Bears are opening the season against the Warhawks, after a 20-35 campaign in 2025. Central Arkansas returns 22 players from the 2025 squad and welcomes 22 newcomers to the roster, including five freshmen and 17 transfers. The Bears were picked to finish fourth in the ASUN Gold Division in the Preseason Coaches' Poll and received one first-place vote. Junior outfielder Zeb Allen earned Preseason All-ASUN recognition after a strong 2025 season, leading the team in runs (55), home runs (9) and stolen bases (15). 

CORLEY ON THE MOUND –

ULM head coach Ford Pemberton is looking to start redshirt junior left-handed pitcher Brandt Corley the start on the mound for the season opener. While Corley did not see action last season, he has recorded 21 appearances with the Warhawks. The pitcher has a career record of 3-4 with 23 strikeouts, posting two strikeouts twice in 2024. He threw a career-high five innings his freshman season, recording six strikeouts against Northwestern State.

ROBINSON GETS GAME TWO –

In his third season with the Warhawks, Justin Robinson will start off on the mound on Saturday. Robinson made 10 appearances out of the bullpen last season, striking out seven batters and stringing together three consecutive scoreless appearances. The right hand has a career record of 2-4, also claiming two saves and 61 strikeouts across 61.2 innings.

BUILT FORD TOUGH –

Friday's game marks the debut of ULM Baseball head coach Ford Pemberton. Pemberton arrives in Monroe after spending two seasons on the Memphis baseball staff as the team's hitting coach and recruiting coordinator. The Bossier City, La., native spent two seasons at Southeastern Louisiana, also spending time at Nicholls (2017-21) and C.E. Byrd High School (2014-16). 

NEW ON THE MOUND –

On the mound, ULM welcomes true freshmen Adam Brodnax, Tyler Roark and Cash Dabbs. Also in the pitching room are eight transfers. Brendan McKinley arrives from Big Bend CC, making 24 starts across two seasons with a record of 10-9. Wichita State transfer JC Dermody made five appearances in 2025, after two seasons at Des Moines Area CC, where he helped the team to a NJCAA Division II World Series appearance in 2024. Haydan Toal transfers in from LSU-Eunice, where he made 11 appearances out of the bullpen as a freshman, tallying 14 strikeouts while walking only six. Mississippi Gulf Coast CC transfer Samuel Marsh is a right-hander who went 6-4 in 2025 with a 4.67 ERA and 79 strikeouts. Seth Cooper makes the trip from Little Rock, where he saw eight appearances and earned one start. New Orleans transfer Canaan Clayton made eight appearances in 2025, seeing 8.1 innings of time. Caleb Strmiska spent two seasons at McNeese, making 25 appearances and sitting 14 batters in 2025. Hayden Donahue reunites with Coach Pemberton, spending a season at Memphis where he made 13 appearances and registered a 6.57 ERA.

NEW IN THE OUTFIELD – 

In the outfield, true freshmen in Gavin Price, Owen McKoon and Garrett Wiethorn are welcomed to ULM. Wichita State transfer Davis Mauzy recorded four RBI last season, making 12 appearances and seven starts. Logan Duffy arrives after stops at Old Dominion, McLennan CC and Pitt, seeing action in 15 games for the Panthers in 2025 where he collected six hits and two RBI. Another P4 transfer in Micah Dean adds to the mix, posting a .958 fielding percentage in 2025 for Kansas State, where he also logged five hits and scored eight runs. Jake Griffith is on his fifth collegiate year, arriving from Tampa where he hit .250 in 2025, tallying nine hits and 11 RBI.

NEW IN THE INFIELD – 

Four true freshman join the infield in Dean Hannah, Travis Adams, Dayne Wray and Sutton Lewis. Ryan Alexandertransfers in after two seasons at Navarro JC. In 2025, Alexander hit .237 and drove in 17 runs across 41 games of action. Behind the plate, Drew Jarrell arrives from Coastal Alabama CC-North, where he made 22 starts, hitting .269 with three home runs and three doubles in 2025.

LOOKING AHEAD –

The ULM baseball team will hit the road for its first midweek, traveling to Northwestern State for a 6 p.m. first pitch on February 17.