LAKE CHARLES, La. – The ULM softball team (0-2) dropped in both games in their season-opening day. The team fell to No. 1 Texas Tech (3-0) in the afternoon and McNeese (2-1) in the nightcap in the first day of the Twisted Vines Bayou Bash in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
 
Game One: No. 1 Texas Tech 13, ULM 1 (5 inn.)
The Red Raiders got off to an early start, a Lagi Quiroga double driving in two runs for the 2-0 score in the first inning. With the Warhawks unable to capitalize in the bottom of the first, Texas Tech looked to extend the lead with a seven-run second inning.
 
Kaitlyn Terry singled to left field with two on base, scoring one to progress. Mia Williams then followed up with a three-RBI double to make it six runs for the preseason favorites. Taylor Pannell and Jackie Lis also drove in runs in the second, totaling nine runs in the middle of the second.
 
Junior Maryssa Zenzen claimed the first hit of the 2026 season for the Warhawks, blasting her 11^th career homer in the first at-bat of the second inning. With the score holding at 9-1, a double play closed out a further lead for Texas Tech. Two strikeouts for Terry held ULM with the lone run after three innings. A solo shot for Jasmyn Burns, an RBI single and a two-RBI double for Texas Tech set up the 13-1 score in the fourth inning, neither team scoring in the fifth and final inning.
 
Zenzen closed the afternoon leading the team with a hit and an RBI from her home run. The first baseman also led the team with seven putouts. Dakota Lake was credited with the loss in the pitching circle, pitching the opening inning. Maddie Nichols, Bristin Bordeau and Skylar Waggoner also saw action in the circle, Waggoner logging her first strikeout as a Warhawk.
 
Game Two: McNeese 6, ULM 2
It was another strong start for the opponents as the Cowgirls held ULM without a run in the first inning before turning around with a five-run inning for themselves. Three singles for the Cowgirls had the home team rounding the bases for a 5-0 advantage in the first inning. 
 
Neither team was able to find a score in the second inning, Ashanti McDade notching her first strikeout at ULM. McNeese's Maddie Taylor hit a solo home run in the bottom of the third to extend the advantage to six, as the Warhawks continued to hunt for a score. Two more scoreless innings for both teams brought about the sixth inning, Bristin Bordeau entering in the fourth to keep the Cowgirls at bay. 
 
Junior Reece Briggs launched her sixth career home run in the sixth inning, a two-run shot to right center to score Brooklin Lippert. With life in the ULM offense, Hollie Thomas and Carys Platt singled, but Williams closed out the inning before a comeback developed. A single from Kailey Monsef in the seventh and a walk set up another attempt for the Warhawks, but McNeese's defense was able to secure the victory, 6-2.
 
Seven different Warhawks picked up hits against the Cowgirls, Briggs claiming the two RBI from her home run. Tessie Harrison logged a double in the fifth for her first collegiate hit, joining Monsef to collect in their ULM debuts. Skylar Waggoner was credited with the loss as the starter in the circle, with McDade and Bordeau also seeing action. Bordeau reached a career-high four strikeouts across 3.1 innings in the contest.
 
The Warhawks will continue play in the Twisted Vines Bayou Bash on Saturday (Feb. 7). ULM will first face Tulsa at 3:30 p.m., before taking on host McNeese again at 6 p.m. The game against McNeese will be available for streaming on ESPN+.