MONROE, La. – The ULM softball team (16-12) dropped at home in a midweek contest against Central Arkansas (18-8) in a tight 4-3 score. An early home run from
Morgan Brown set up a Warhawk lead, but a comeback sparked by the visitors allowed for the tides to turn.
Two landed on base early as a single and a walk got the Bears moving. A strikeout from
Ashanti McDade ended the inning before Central Arkansas could capitalize. After a single and a walk landed two Warhawks on base, it was
Morgan Brown with a homer to left field, scoring three runs in the first to get the offense rolling.
A scoreless second across the board brought up the third inning, where a single and a walk got runners on base again for the Bears. An RBI double from Trinity Brandon claimed the first run of the contest, a sacrifice fly following. An RBI single closed out the inning as LJ Smith tied the game at three runs apiece.
With ULM unable to respond in the bottom of the third, the game was sent to the fourth, Central Arkansas left a runner stranded as neither team found the tiebreaker. Another scoreless inning in the fifth–featuring a double play by
Olivia Faggard at first base–set up the sixth, where ULM got moving again. Back-to-back singles got both Brown sisters on base, but a fielder's choice gave way to a strikeout, ending the inning before the tying run crossed home plate.
In the top of the seventh, two singles and a walk loaded the bases as a fielder's choice scored the fourth and winning run of the game. With two outs on the board in the final half-inning, a walk brought up
Brooklin Lippert. After a called-foul ball gave Lippert another chance at bat, the third strike was called and the game concluded with a 4-3 score in favor of UCA.
Morgan Brown logged the only multi-hit (2) and multi-RBI (3) game, hitting the lone home run of the contest with the wind pushing infield.
Brooklin Lippert and
Meagan Brown also logged hits on the evening. Faggard led the defense with 12 putouts at first base, also turning a double play herself.
Skylar Waggoner was credited with the loss, pitching 4.1 innings and striking out two, allowing just one earned run.
Ashanti McDade also saw action as the starter, pitching 2.2 innings and retiring two batters as well.
The ULM softball team will hit the road to begin Sun Belt play, first facing the reigning regular season champions in Texas State. The Warhawks with first face off against the Bobcats on Friday (March 13) at 6 p.m.
