MONROE, La. – In a doubleheader, the ULM Warhawks (37-19, 19-5 Sun Belt) defeated Southern Miss (33-23, 14-10 Sun Belt) two times to clinch the outright Sun Belt regular season title. Both games were decided by a run, as the Warhawks cruised to their first-ever Sun Belt title and first conference title since 1997.
Game 1: ULM 1, Southern Miss 0
Both teams went 1-2-3 in the opening frame to set the tone for a low-scoring game. After holding the Golden Eagles without a score again in the second, a double for
Maryssa Zenzen gave the Warhawks a hit. Still left 0-0, a hit had a runner stranded for Southern Miss, the same going for ULM in the third.
A double play in the fourth shut down any scoring attempts from the Golden Eagles in the fourth, as ULM worked to get on the board. After reaching first on a passed ball,
Morgan Brown crossed home from a
Carson Jansky RBI double. With the winning run scored, the Warhawks worked to shut down the visiting offense.
A leadoff double was no match for ULM's defense as another runner was left on base in the fifth, the Warhawks also going three-up, three-down. Two more were left in the sixth, two fielder's choices securing the scoreless frame. Another hit got a Warhawk on base, but she was stranded as the 1-0 score was maintained. With one out on the board and an error landing a Golden Eagle on first, a strikeout from
Skylar Waggoner was driven into a double play to end the inning and secure the 1-0 victory.
Four Warhawks in
Meagan Brown,
Maryssa Zenzen,
Carson Jansky and
Carys Platt recorded hits in the contest. The Golden Eagles claimed three hits and no errors in the scoreless contest.
Olivia Faggard led the defense with eight putouts at first base. Pitcher
Skylar Waggoner shut things down with a complete-game shutout, her second of the season, to clinch the regular season title. She struck out four batters, allowing three hits and no walks in seven innings.
Game 2: ULM 2, Southern Miss 1
Fresh off the one-run win and series victory, ULM's defense was able to hold the Golden Eagles without a score in the opening frame yet again. This included a strikeout from senior pitcher
Maddie Nichols. Two singles for ULM had the offense moving early, but both runners were left as the game remained scoreless after one.
A hit and a walk for Southern Miss gave potential for a leading score, but back-to-back outs stranded both. The Warhawks were left without a score in the second as the close contest headed for the third. Neither team was able to score in the third, even as
Brooklin Lippert doubled down right field. The fourth also had batters go 1-2-3, pitcher Kayla Giardina striking out two Warhawks.
A leadoff double in the fifth for the Golden Eagles brought about a pendulum swing, as a walk landed another on base. A strikeout followed as the inning ended and kept the visitors without a run.
Elle Carter led off with a walk in the fifth,
Kelsey Kovar following with a single. A sacrifice bunt from
Cheyenne Jenkins got both runners in scoring position as Lippert doubled to drive in two runs.
With a 2-0 advantage in the sixth, a single gave potential for Southern Miss to chip at the lead. But the Warhawks held strong and prevented the score, with just three outs remaining for the Golden Eagles. While a hit and an error got two more runners on base, the game was left at 2-0 entering the final inning. A leadoff solo home run from Kayce Bennett gave hope to the Golden Eagles in the top of the seventh, but a strikeout and the final out as a flyout caught by Jenkins secured the 2-1 win and sweep.
Brooklin Lippert recorded another three-hit / two-RBI game, with a career-high two doubles.
Meagan Brown,
Carson Jansky and
Kelsey Kovar each also recorded hits.
Carys Platt led the defense with five putouts on the day.
Maddie Nichols saw seven innings of work in the circle, striking out four and allowing just one run on the day to earn the win.
The Warhawks have now claimed their first series win over the Golden Eagles in Monroe since 1989, cruising to the regular season title. This is ULM's second conference title in program history.
ULM will face the winner of (8) Ragin' Cajuns and (9) Troy on Thursday (May 7) at 4 p.m. in Lafayette, Louisiana for the Sun Belt Tournament Quarterfinals.
