MONROE, La. – The ULM Warhawks (22-17, 6-3 Sun Belt) picked up their first Sun Belt sweep of the season over the Ragin' Cajuns (20-16, 3-6 Sun Belt) on Sunday (March 29), the first three-game sweep over the Cajuns in program history. While the visitors led with nine hits on the day, they stranded nine on base as the Warhawks secured the vistory with seven runs off seven hits.
A lead-off single and error placed two on base early, as Kennedy Marceaux hit an RBI single to score the first run of the game. A sacrifice fly secured the second run and 2-0 lead through the top of the first, ULM getting the chance to even the score.
Back-to-back singles opened the bottom of the second, the full nine-batter lineup seeing an at-bat in the first inning and six landing on base. After a walk loaded the bases with no outs,
Hollie Thomas doubled to score three and find the lead, leaving Thomas on base with no one out. Another single followed,
Elle Carter hitting the bunt to drive in the fourth run of the game. A ground-out from
Carson Jansky scored the fifth run as ULM secured the 5-2 lead through the first frame.
Two hits led to two runners for the Cajuns, but both were stranded in the second, as the Warhawks went 1-2-3 to maintain the three-run lead. Two more hits came in the third for the visitors, but they were stranded again with two strikeouts holding onto the lead. While two outs quickly had the Warhawks without a score again, it was
Kelsey Kovar who launched the solo home run for the sixth run of the game.
The Cajuns did not go away quickly, however, a lead-off walk setting up two fielder's choices as runners remained on base. A double from Marceaux scored a run to chip at the lead, leaving it 6-3 in the middle of the fourth.
Carson Jansky then hit a lead-off solo bomb to left field for the seventh run of the contest, her second career homer run.
Heading to the fifth, both teams went 1-2-3 as the Cajuns worked to chip at the four-run contest. In the sixth, an error landed a runner on first, a double from Lily Knox scoring the fourth run. A single from Marceaux then cut the lead to two runs with a 7-5 score in the middle of the sixth. Two strikeouts from Julianne Tipton in the bottom frame then propped up the Cajuns for a comeback attempt in the seventh. With one out, a single landed a runner on base, but a fly-out followed by a strikeout by
Ashanti McDade secured the 7-5 win and series sweep over the Ragin' Cajuns. While a two-game sweep last occurred in 2001, a three-game sweep has never occurred against the Cajuns for ULM.
The Warhawks scored seven runs on seven hits, each hit by a different player.
Hollie Thomas led the team with three RBIs on the day,
Carson Jansky recording two RBI. Jansky and
Kelsey Kovar each notched home runs as well.
Olivia Faggard led the team at first base with eight putouts on the day.
Skylar Waggoner (4.1 IP) was credited with the win, striking out two batters and walking just one, while
Ashanti McDade (1.2 IP) struck out one batter to claim the save.
Dakota Lake (1.0 IP) also saw time, allowing just one earned run.
ULM improves to 6-3 in conference play through three conference series. The Warhawks will conclude their eight-game homestand with a midweek against Alcorn State on Tuesday (March 31) at 6 p.m.
