TROY, Ala. – In a 10-inning fight at the Troy Softball Complex, the ULM Warhawks (33-18, 15-4 Sun Belt) defeated the Troy Trojans (30-18, 8-11 Sun Belt) to continue a now nine-game winning streak. The Warhawks claimed four runs off eight hits, the Trojans recording nine hits and converting two into runs.
A lead-off strikeout put the opening frame in favor of Troy, as the Warhawks went 1-2-3. Unlike ULM, bats got hot for the Trojans, a two-out single landing a runner on base. Mia Tidmore hit the RBI double to find the lead for the home team as pitcher
Ashanti McDade stranded two on base with a strikeout. While a walk got ULM's first runner on, three outs concluded the top of the second. Troy continued its momentum with back-to-back singles, an RBI single finding the second run of the game. While two more outs sent the Trojan defense back out, the two-run edge was settled.
Another walk and a single got two Warhawks prepared on base, but three outs closed out the third, ULM finding its first hit of the game but left scoreless.
Skylar Waggoner entered the contest in the circle, retiring all three Trojans to keep the score as it was. With two outs in the top of the fourth, two more runners reached base again, the third out preventing a score for the fourth-straight inning. Troy went on to go three-up, three-down in the bottom frame as ULM looked to bounce back.
Kelsey Kovar led off with a walk in the fifth, as
Brooklin Lippert singled to land two on base.
Morgan Brown then singled to centerfield, driving in a run to cut the lead in half. A throwing error allowed for Lippert to cross home for the tying run. Another 1-2-3 inning shut down the home team for the 2-2 tie game. The Troy defense held strong in the top of the sixth, Waggoner leading the Warhawks to another quick three outs.
A Warhawk was stranded on base in the top of the seventh as the Trojans worked to walk off the game. A walk gave an opportunity, but another strikeout helped to shut things down and send the game to extra innings.
Olivia Faggard hit a double to get in scoring position, as two ground-outs left the game undecided. The ULM outfield caught two fly balls to send the game to the ninth, knotted 2-2.
Carys Platt was the next Warhawk to claim an extra-base hit with a triple down in right field, a strikeout preventing her from scoring. Back-to-back singles in the bottom frame had ULM in a precarious situation, but success from the defense had the Trojans stranding runners again.
In the 10
th inning, the fifth time ULM has reached extra innings this season,
Morgan Brown singled to drive the momentum. Faggard walked, both runners advancing from a passed ball to get in scoring position. It was freshman
Carson Jansky with the game-winning drive, hitting the two-RBI single for the 4-2 lead in the top of the inning. A lead-off single by Troy had the pendulum swinging toward the home team, a second single bringing the winning run to the plate. But a fielder's choice and a ground-out ended the comeback hopes for the Trojans as ULM won its 15
th conference game, 4-2.
Brooklin Lippert and
Morgan Brown each recorded multi-hit games with two,
Carson Jansky and her two-RBI double giving her a multi-RBI game. Four other Warhawks claimed hits in the contest. 14 putouts from
Olivia Faggard at first base led the defense,
Elle Carter claiming five assists at shortstop.
Skylar Waggoner earned the win with 8.2 innings of work, striking out seven batters and allowing no runs.
Ashanti McDade also saw time in 1.1 innings, striking out two and walking one.
ULM improves to 15-4 in Sun Belt play, the most Sun Belt wins in program history. The win also slots the Warhawks tied for first place in the conference standings. With a win on Saturday, ULM would reach a double-digit win streak, also crossing six conference series wins, the most since 1997.
The Warhawks will continue the series at Troy on Saturday (April 25) at 11 a.m.
