HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The ULM Warhawks (25-26, 10-16 Sun Belt) dropped the second game of the series as the Marshall Thundering Herd (23-27, 13-13 Sun Belt) clinched the series on Saturday (May 9) afternoon. The Warhawks logged 10 hits–three being home runs–scoring 10 runs. Marshall claimed 11 hits but scored 13 runs for the win.
Davis Mauzy led off the opening frame with a single, continuing to advance to third before three outs stranded him. The home team struck first, as back-to-back singles and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases with no outs. A two-run double scored the first runs of the contest, a single driving in two more. A second double drove in the fifth and sixth runs of the inning, as Marshall got ahead to a 6-0 lead in the first.
Marcus Aranda was hit by a pitch to lead off the second, singles from
Kade Dupont and
Dayne Wray loading the bases. With two outs, Mauzy singled to drive in two runs, chipping at the lead. With a 6-2 score, Marshall took another stab at the offense, two runners landing on early from free passes. Ethan Murdoch hit a sacrifice fly to score the seventh run and stretch the lead back to five. The Warhawks could not find a score in the third, as
Justin Robinson struck out two consecutive batters in the bottom frame to keep the score the same.
After ULM went 1-2-3 in the fourth, the Thundering Herd recorded two more singles, getting runners in scoring position. A groundout scored an eighth run and a double scored two more runs as the home team improved to a 10-2 score through four innings. The offense began to pick up for the Warhawks in the fifth, as Mauzy led off with a home run to add to the tally.
Jake Haggard landed on base and Aranda hit a double to score the fourth run. Three outs for the Herd kept the Warhawk momentum moving.
Back-to-back walks opened the sixth, as the Warhawks took advantage with a two-RBI single from Mauzy. The score now 10-6, ULM was able to keep Marshall off the board in the bottom. After Aranda walked in the seventh, a second home run was hit for ULM, this time from
Kade Dupont. Now a two-run ballgame,
Seth Cooper struck out a batter on the way to Marshall's fourth scoreless inning.
Garrett Wiethorn singled to land on base in the eighth as
Jake Haggard hit a home run, scoring the tying run. Clawing back from an eight-run deficit, the Warhawks worked to keep the score tied in the bottom. But a leadoff single got a runner on, a double scoring a run to break the tie. A two-run homer from Jackson Golden stretched the lead back out to three, the Warhawks unable to bounce back in the ninth, Marshall clinching the series 13-10.
Davis Mauzy led the team, going four-for-six at the plate, driving in five runs off four hits. Mauzy recorded one of the three home runs,
Kade Dupont and
Jake Haggard each recording one as well, both driving in two runs each.
Holden Hess (1.0 IP) was credited with the loss, now at 2-4 on the season.
Justin Robinson (2.2 IP) led the pitching staff with two strikeouts on the day.
ULM will be back to compete in the finale at noon CT / 1 p.m. ET on Sunday (May 10).
