ULM Warhawks

MONROE, La. – A five-run bottom of the eighth inning provided ULM baseball (19-15, 7-5 Sun Belt) with a 9-4 midweek win over Mississippi Valley State (10-19, 6-6 SWAC) Tuesday evening.
 
The Delta Devils were blanked at the top of the first with a walk being the only production. Micah Dean hit a single into left to get on base before a Bryce Blaser single that rolled past the infield allowed the former to score from first. After a Jake Haggard single, Marcus Aranda hit his eighth home run of the season, putting three on the board and making it 4-0 Warhawks.
 
After a scoreless second from both teams, MVSU plated two at the top of the third inning with a trio of doubles. At the bottom of the fourth, the Warhawks were able to put runners at the corners with a Davis Mauzy walk and Micah Dean single, but the threat was ended by a caught stealing play at home plate.
 
A solo home run by Gabriel Huelsing brought the Delta Devils to within one run. After two singles, a hit down the left field line scored the tying run, putting both teams even with a score of 4-4.
 
A Blaser single and an Aranda walk put another pair of base runners on for ULM in the bottom half of the fifth. The two advanced to second and third with two outs, but a strikeout ended another scoring threat by the home team, resulting in a tied game heading into the sixth.
 
The Warhawks spent the next two frames unable to break the deadlock. Cash Dabbs pitched three scoreless innings to keep MVSU off the scoreboard going into the bottom frame of the eighth.
 
Three walks loaded the bases with one out for the home team, with Mauzy coming up to the plate. The center fielder lined a ball into left field, bringing two runners home to give ULM the lead.
 
Dean followed that up with a three-run shot into left, resulting in a 9-4 lead. Three more outs recorded by Dabbs ended the game and sealed the win.
 
Dabbs final winning stat line included 4 innings pitched with five strikeouts and two hits allowed. Offensively, Blaser led the team with four hits as Dean and Mauzy also had multi-hit performances. Aranda and Dean both homered to collect three RBI as Mauzy's go-ahead hit in the bottom of the eighth produced two.
 
The Warhawks travel to Boone, N.C., to take on App State this weekend from Friday, Apr. 10, through Sunday, Apr. 12.