OXFORD, Miss. – The ULM softball team (13-5) hits the road to travel to the Ole Miss Classic, facing Jacksonville State (12-5) on Friday at 2 p.m. and Saturday at 11:30 a.m. before taking on host Ole Miss (12-5) on Saturday at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. Streaming will be available on SECN+ for the games against Ole Miss, with live stats found at ulmwarhawks.com/stats.
SERIES HISTORY VS. JACKSONVILLE STATE –
ULM will face the Gamecocks for the fifth and sixth time in program history, looking to break a 2-2 tie in the series. Three of the previous meetings occurred in 2022, as the Warhawks saw the Gamecocks in Hattiesburg, splitting the games against them, then falling at Jacksonville State later in the year in a 7-0 decision. In neutral site games, ULM is also split with Jacksonville State, going 1-1 in those games in Hattiesburg.
SCOUTING THE GAMECOCKS –
The Gamecocks post a 12-5 record this season, going 3-2 in the Louisiana Classic, hosted by the Ragin' Cajuns. Jacksonville State then saw another Sun Belt opponent in the South Alabama Invitational, going 3-2 again on the weekend. The Gamecocks continued to find success in wins over the Ragin' Cajuns, South Alabama, Tulsa, Chattanooga and UAB. Morgan Nowakowski leads the team with a .451 batting average, collecting 23 hits and 21 runs. Preseason All-CUSA member Kailey Martin leads the team with 20 RBI and three homers. Freshman pitcher Makenna Mooreclaimed CUSA Freshman of the Week honors this week, posting a 1.27 ERA on the week and picking up 23 strikeouts in 11 innings.
SERIES HISTORY VS. OLE MISS –
The Rebels also have a split series history with the Warhawks, heading into the 11th and 12th meetings. Ole Miss is tied 5-5 with ULM all-time, the last meeting coming in 2018, a 7-0 decision in Oxford. This is the first meeting ULM will have with Ole Miss in the Molly Fichtner era. While the Warhawks hold a 4-1 record against the Rebels at home, it's an 1-3 record in Oxford.
SCOUTING THE REBELS –
Ole Miss also posts a 12-5 record this season, with notable wins over McNeese, Ragin' Cajuns and Central Arkansas. The Rebels went 3-2 in the Ragin' Cajun Invitational, before going 4-1 in the Green & Gold Classic, hosted by UAB. Freshman Madi George leads the team with a .438 batting average, hitting five home runs and claiming 18 RBI this season. Senior pitcher Emilee Boyer leads the team with a 2.08 ERA, striking out 31 batters in 37 innings and through four complete games. The Rebels were selected to finish 13th in the SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
LAST TIME OUT –
The ULM softball team picked up a sixth-straight win in a 2-0 victory over Grambling State. In a fast-paced game, both teams got runners on base in the first but were unable to convert. The same story followed in the second inning, Dakota Lake striking out a batter to conclude the inning and send the game to the third. After a scoreless sixth, Morgan Brownhit a lead-off triple to get in position for the leading run. Reece Briggs hit a sacrifice fly to left field for the first run of the game. Brooklin Lippert then singled to drive home Kailey Monsef, settling the score at 2-0. Lake claimed the win with all seven innings under her belt, striking out a career-high nine batters while allowing no runs, three hits and a walk for the complete game shutout.
Ks ALL DAY –
Three ULM pitchers have picked up career highs in strikeouts over the last week, two breaking double digits in Ks. First, it was senior Maddie Nichols striking out 11 batters in five innings of action, allowing one earned run and two walks. Then, left-handed pitcher Skylar Waggoner followed that up with 13 Ks in a complete game one-hitter shutout, the most struck out by a pitcher in the Sun Belt this season and one away from the single-game record. Dakota Lake then posted a complete game shutout of her own against Grambling State, striking out a career-high nine batters in the 2-0 victory.
THREE IN ONE –
In the sixth inning against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday, three home runs were hit in a single inning. Maryssa Zenzenhit an in-the-park homer, before Morgan Brown and Dally Engle followed it up with solo homers. The Warhawks remain as one of two mid-major programs to hit three or more home runs in a single inning.
LOOKING AHEAD –
The ULM softball team will host Grambling State in their return trip to the ULM Softball Complex. The game against the Tigers is slated to begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday (March 4).
