MONROE, La. – The ULM softball team (12-5) swept its opponents in the Best on the Bayou Tournament, defeating both Lamar (7-8) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (2-6) in the final day of the tournament. The batting allowed for the Warhawks to get ahead early, the pitching and defense maintaining both leads.
 
Game 1: ULM 7, Lamar 3
After remaining scoreless in the first inning, both teams would turn on the offense to get runs on the board. In the second inning, a hit-by-pitch and a single setting up an RBI single from Lamar's Sicily Windham as the Cardinals got to a 1-0 lead. A single and a walk allowed for Maryssa Zenzen to double to left field, scoring two as the Warhawks took the lead in the bottom of the inning. Another single and a Cheyenne Jenkins ground-out scored the third of a three-run inning.
 
A double play in the third inning shut down Lamar, sending Hollie Thomas to the plate for a lead-off homer, her third of the season. Unable to add even further to the tally, the teams turned to the fourth inning, where Cardinal Gracee Hess scored two in a home run of her own. Another scoreless inning for the Warhawks brought the game to the fifth.
 
A single and a wild pitch in the fifth placed Thomas in scoring position as Elle Carter allowed her to score from the fielder's choice. Now a 5-3 lead, ULM thwarted Lamar's attempts at a comeback in the sixth with two strikeouts from Skylar Waggoner. A walk, a single and a sacrifice bunt got Meagan Brown in line for a two-RBI single, extending the advantage to four as ULM claimed the win, 7-3.
 
Thomas led the team with three hits on the day, Zenzen and Carys Platt both also having multi-hit games. Meagan Brown and Zenzen also had multi-RBI games with two apiece. Seven putouts from Kelsey Kovar had her leading the defense in the win. Ashanti McDade claimed the win, pitching four innings and three strikeouts while allowing no walks. Skylar Waggoner, appearing in the top of the fifth, picked up the save as she pitched three innings, allowing no runs off two hits and striking out four batters.
 
Game 2: ULM 8, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 0 (5 inn.)
Two strikeouts opened the second game of the day as Maddie Nichols kept the Lions at bay. Hollie Thomas was able to hit a double in the first, but was unable to cross home for the first score. A few hits in the second caught Lions loading the bases, but a strikeout and two defensive plays got the Warhawks out of it.
 
In the second, a lead-off double from Morgan Brown then set up Carson Jansky's walk, Brown then able to steal home for the first run of the game. A three-up, three-down inning from Arkansas-Pine Bluff introduced a five-run inning for ULM in the third. Two singles and double stolen bases had runners in scoring position early, Thomas doubling to left field for two runs. Maryssa Zenzen then singled for another run scored, Morgan Brown following with her own RBI double as the Warhawks reached a 5-0 score. Loading the bases for the home team, Cheyenne Jenkins walked to score the fifth run of the inning.
 
Able to keep the Lions without a score, a fielding error got Meagan Brown on base, Cecilia Gonzales collecting her first career RBI with a single to left field. Olivia Faggard then got an RBI of her own, hitting a single to left field to score the eighth run of the game. Abagail Creighton was able to strike out a batter in the fifth, the defense shutting down the Lions as ULM closed the game, 8-0, in five innings.
 
Morgan Brown had three hits on the day, Thomas picking up two for another multi-hit game. Thomas also had another multi-RBI game with two. Maddie Nichols is credited with the win, pitching 3.1 innings and striking out four batters, allowing no runs off one hit. Tessa Ivy and Abagail Creighton both also saw time in the circle, neither allowing a run for the shutout.
 
The ULM softball team will next travel to face another local foe in Grambling State. First pitch in Grambling with be at 3 p.m. on Wednesday (Feb. 25).