TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Both teams snagged six hits as sixth-ranked Alabama (27-1, 5-1 SEC), claimed victory over ULM (17-15, 1-2 Sun Belt) in a 4-1 score on Tuesday afternoon (March 17).
After a 1-2-3 first inning for the Warhawks,
Ashanti McDade opened the bottom of the opening inning with a strikeout. But a walk and a single allowed for a triple to score two runs as the Crimson Tide found the lead. An RBI single followed to make it a 3-0 score after one inning, the home team ahead.
ULM was able to get runners on base in the second, three singles and a fielder's choice propelling momentum. Three outs stranded two runners on base, however, to keep the Tide ahead by three runs. The Warhawk defense shifted their energy to hold Alabama to a three-up, three-down inning.
A single from
Brooklin Lippert was followed by a
Meagan Brown double, as
Morgan Brown collected an RBI on a ground-out for the lone score of the game for ULM. With one out down in the third, a solo home run from Alexis Pupillo made it a 4-1 score after three innings. Three-straight strikeouts for Vic Moten kept ULM from bouncing back in the fourth, but the Warhawks also held the Tide without a score in the inning.
Another scoreless half inning for ULM set up Alabama to extend the lead, a triple and a walk landing runners on base. But a fly-out closed out the inning, stranding two runners and keeping the Crimson Tide advantage at three. A lead-off single from Meagan and a walk from Morgan brought on some momentum in the sixth, but three outs prevented anyone crossing home plate. Neither team scored in their final offensive innings of the contest, settling the score at 4-1 in favor of Alabama.
Meagan Brown led the team with a multi-hit game (two hits),
Morgan Brown claiming the lone RBI. Four other Warhawks logged singles in the contest.
Ashanti McDade is credited with the loss, pitching the complete game and striking out two batters.
The Warhawks will return to Monroe to begin an eight-game homestand at the ULM Softball Complex this weekend. The homestand begins with a series against South Alabama, the first game on Friday (March 20) at 6 p.m.
