OXFORD, Miss. – The ULM softball team (13-8) dropped both games on Saturday (Feb. 28), falling to Jacksonville State and LSU.
Game 1: Jacksonville State 8, ULM 2
A lead-off single in the first by
Meagan Brown had the momentum swinging in the Warhawk favor, but three outs were found before anyone could capitalize. Three-straight doubles by the Gamecocks in the bottom of the inning allowed for two runs to score early. An RBI single then closed out the inning, Jax State ahead 3-0.
Morgan Brown hit a lead-off homer in the second to chip away at the lead, the lone run scored in the second as ULM was unable to expand on the pendulum swing. A 1-2-3 inning retired the Gamecocks and allowed for the Warhawks to continue the offense. Three strikeouts closed out the third for ULM, Kailey Martin hitting a home run to make it a 4-1 score. A scoreless fourth brought on the fifth, where the Warhawks were unable to score. But two home runs in the bottom of the fifth added four to the tally for the Gamecocks.
Brown hit her second home run of the game to lead off the sixth inning, bringing the Warhawk count to two. A 1-2-3 inning closed the six and the same came for ULM in the top of the seventh for the 8-2 score.
Morgan Brown had a two-hit, two-home-run, two-RBI day, her second multi-home run game of her career. Five other Warhawks claimed hits on the day but were unable to capitalize. Nine putouts for
Maryssa Zenzen in the game led the team's defense.
Maddie Nichols was credited with the loss, pitching 0.2 innings and allowing three hits and three earned runs.
Dakota Lake saw the majority of time in the circle, pitching 3.1 innings, striking out two batters and allowing five hits and three earned runs. Two earned runs came for
Skylar Waggoner, who concluded time in the circle, throwing two innings and striking out two.
Game 2: Ole Miss 7, ULM 1
While ULM was able to notch a hit in the top of the first, two strikeouts concluded the inning without a run scored. A double from the Rebels got them in scoring position, but three outs closed out the inning. A single, a walk and an error loaded the bases in the second for the Warhawks, three outs retiring batters to strand all three runners. Scoreless through three innings, the game headed for the fourth, as ULM held scoreless in the top. A lead-off walk in the bottom of the fourth led to a seven-spot in the fourth, back-to-back singles scoring the first run of the game. A walk scored another, a hit and a sacrifice fly adding to the tally. Freshman Madi George then hit a two-run homer to cap off the inning, making it a 7-0 score after four innings.
A walk and a single got two on base in the top of the fifth,
Hollie Thomas hitting an RBI single to score a run for ULM. Keeping the Rebels without an additional score, the Warhawks were able to get two on base in the sixth, but could not convert, additional scoreless innings leaving it as a 7-1 score.
Morgan Brown saw the only multi-hit game for the Warhawks, Thomas,
Kelsey Kovar and
Carys Platt each logging a hit.
Ashanti McDade was credited with the loss, striking out two batters and allowing three hits.
Bristin Bordeau (1.0 IP),
Tessa Ivy (1.1 IP) and
Abagail Creighton (0.2 IP) also saw time in the circle.
The ULM softball team will continue play at the Ole Miss Classic on Sunday (March 1). ULM will face Ole Miss in a rematch at 1 p.m.
