LAKE CHARLES, La. – The ULM softball team (1-3) split its games 1-1 on Saturday in the Twisted Vines Bayou Bash, defeating Tulsa (0-4) and falling to McNeese (4-1). An early lead set up the victory against the Golden Hurricane, while the bats struggled to get hot against the Cowgirls.
Game One: ULM 4, Tulsa 3
ULM was able to score in the first inning for the first time this season,
Brooklin Lippert and
Carys Platt both hitting singles to lead off.
Maryssa Zenzen followed up with an RBI single to score Lippert, a wild pitch scoring Platt.
Hollie Thomas and
Elle Carter also singled in the first inning, Carter's hit scoring Thomas for the 3-0 score after one inning.
The Golden Hurricane bounced back quickly, however. Back-to-back singles set up a sacrifice hit from Preslee Ray and a wild pitch closed the gap to 3-2 after two innings. Three quick outs for Tulsa set up ULM's offense, Zenzen with her second extra-base hit this season, a double to get on base. But she was left stranded for a scoreless third. Both teams were also held without a score in the fourth for the 3-2 score after four.
A lead-off single and a stolen base set up the tying run for Tulsa, an RBI single evening the score in the fifth. But the Warhawks responded, as Platt notched her second single of the game, Zenzen's at bat allowing for Platt to round the bases for the lead. A scoreless sixth allowed for the ULM defense to fend off Tulsa, securing the 4-3 score and first victory of the season.
Platt, Zenzen and Thomas all reached two hits for their first multi-hit games of the season, both Zenzen and Thomas finding extra-base hits in doubles. Carter joined Zenzen in tallying an RBI as well. Zenzen was across the board in this game, also leading the team with eight putouts at first base.
Ashanti McDade was credited with the win, logging a strikeout in 2.2 innings, while
Dakota Lake claimed the start, snagging two strikeouts in 4.1 innings.
Olivia Faggard,
Cheyenne Jenkins and
Cecilia Gonzales also all made their 2026 debuts against the Golden Hurricane.
Game Two: McNeese 9, ULM 1 (5 inn.)
Carys Platt claimed a hit to open the first inning, but she was left stranded at first. On the other hand, three-straight single and a sacrifice fly allowed for two runs to score for the Cowgirls in the first. A single from
Meagan Brown was followed by an
Elle Carter double in the second, as
Kelsey Kovar notched her first RBI of the season with a sacrifice fly of her own. After holding the home team without a score in the second, the score was a tight 2-1.
Brooklin Lippert led off in the third with a single, then capturing the team's first stolen base of the season as Platt was hit by a pitch to land on base. As the bases loaded with an error landing
Maryssa Zenzen, McNeese pitcher Kadence Williams was able to escape the jam without a score. The momentum from the top of the third set up a four-run inning for the Cowgirls. A single, then a double allowed for three fielder's choices scoring runs. The fourth run was scored as Rylee Cloud was caught stealing, stretching the score to 6-1.
A scoreless fourth for the Warhawks gave the ULM defense a chance to shut down additional scoring. But a solo home run made it seven runs on the evening for McNeese after four innings. After holding ULM without a score for another inning, an RBI single and an error scored the final runs for McNeese, as they closed out the game in five innings with a score of 9-1.
Five different Warhawks claimed hits on the day, notably Carter with the lone extra-base hit. Kovar claimed the only RBI from her sac fly. Both Kovar and
Morgan Brown led the team with three putouts apiece.
Maddie Nichols was credited with the loss after two innings, posting three strikeouts and allowing five hits and four runs.
Ashanti McDade saw two innings in the circle, along with
Bristin Bordeau and
Tessa Ivy seeing time. Ivy claimed her collegiate debut in a partial inning.
The Warhawks will conclude play in the Twisted Vines Bayou Bash on Sunday (Feb. 8). ULM will face North Texas at 1 p.m. to round things out in Lake Charles.
