HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – While the defense turned three double plays, the ULM Warhawks (26-26, 11-16 Sun Belt) held Marshall (23-28, 13-14 Sun Belt) scoreless in six innings to find the win. Marshall led with 15 hits and no errors in the contest but only scored five runs. ULM recorded 10 hits and an error while scoring seven runs for the victory.
A walk landed a Warhawk on base in the opening frame, but the runner was stranded to prevent the score. Three singles from the Thundering Herd in the bottom loaded the bases with two outs, pitcher
Seaver Sheets retiring the final batter to escape the jam. Another hit came for ULM in the second, but another three outs kept the visitors off the board. While Mason Onate led off with a single for the Herd, a double play from the Warhawks kept things even.
A walk landed a runner on with one out in the top of the third as
Bryce Blaser hit his fourth home run of the season. Blaser drove in
Garrett Wiethorn to put the Warhawks ahead, 2-0. In the bottom frame, multiple free passes loaded the bags with two outs, a fielder's choice getting ULM out of the jam yet again. Three outs stranded
Marcus Aranda in the fourth as the Herd worked to chip at the deficit. Three-straight singles with two outs allowed for Marshall to get on the board, cutting the lead to one run.
With the score settled at 2-1, a Blaser double got another Warhawk in scoring position, three outs shutting down the scoring attempt. A leadoff walk in the bottom of the fifth set the home team up for a tie ball game, Ethan Murdoch's sacrifice fly tying things up. An RBI single from Jack Smith then had the Herd turning the tables with the lead through five.
Aranda led off with a solo home run in the sixth, his 13
th of the season to tie the game yet again. ULM pitcher
Adam Tubbs and the ULM defense kept Marshall at bay in the bottom, turning a second double play to end the inning. Two Warhawks got in scoring position with no outs in the seventh, as
Davis Mauzy was hit by a pitch and Wiethorn doubled.
Jake Haggard singled to drive in two runs to find the lead as Aranda drove in another run to secure the 6-3 advantage. A third double play for the Warhawks kept the Herd off the board in the bottom.
Both teams went 1-2-3 in the eighth as ULM looked to put it away in the final inning. Blaser doubled yet again as Haggard recorded another RBI single to make it seven for the Warhawks. Down four runs, two solo home runs from Jackson Halter and Ethan Murdoch cut at the lead. The comeback came too late, however, as ULM picked up the 7-5 win.
Bryce Blaser led the team with three hits,
Jake Haggard and
Marcus Aranda each recording two. Haggard led with three RBIs, as Blaser and Aranda also had multi-RBI games.
Adam Tubbs was credited with the win, seeing 4.2 innings on the bump, striking out two.
Tyler Roark entered in relief for the save, allowing just one hit.
Seaver Sheets (1.0 IP),
Caleb Strmiska (3.0 IP) and
Sam Skarich all saw time on the mound as well.
The Warhawks improve to 26-26 on the season and 11-16 in league play in the first defeat of Marshall since 2023. ULM will conclude the regular season against Troy at Lou St. Amant Field. Play begins on Thursday (May 14) at 6 p.m.
