Saturday, February 21, 2015
Landry Powers Cajuns to Pair of Wins In Ragin' Cajuns Invitational
LAFAYETTE – Shellie Landry provided the lead on home runs in both contests and Christina Hamilton and Jordan Wallace were in command in the circle as the No. 6 Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns softball team extended its undefeated start to 13 games on Saturday in Ragin’ Cajuns Invitational action at Lamson Park.
Landry’s first home run of the day provided the first three runs of a 9-0 triumph over Hofstra in six innings. Hamilton held the Pride to two hits and faced four over the minimum in five innings of work, combing with Kylee Jo Trahan for the shutout.
Landry’s second home run of the day was a two-run blast that opened the scoring in a 5-0 victory over Missouri State in the finale. Wallace came within one out of a no-hitter, struck out 12 and faced just four over the minimum in the seven-inning affair.
No. 6 Louisiana (13-0) is scheduled to complete play in the Ragin’ Cajuns Invitational on Sunday at 2:30 p.m., against in-state foe McNeese State (9-3). The game is slated for a television broadcast by MyKLAF/ESPN3.com and radio broadcast on SportsRadio ESPN 1420-AM.
Landry’s pair of home runs on the day upped her season total to a team-leading seven. The combined six RBI increased her season total to 19, also a team-best.
“The adjustments she (Landry) made from yesterday to today is incredible,” head coach Michael Lotief said. “That was an incredible adjustment. Yesterday, the pitcher from Hofstra made her look bad and today she made her look bad.
“That’s being mature enough to make an adjustment and being able to execute. Both of those home runs were in clutch situations with the game on the line – that’s big time.”
Hamilton made her first start of the 2015 season. It was her second appearance of the tournament, coming on the heels of tossing 5 2/3 innings in relief of Alex Stewart against Iowa on Friday. Prior to the weekend, Hamilton had made just one appearance (Feb. 7 vs. Eastern Illinois) as she rebounded from offseason shoulder ailments.
“It seems like her preparation has allowed her to increase her workload,” Lotief mentioned. “Today was the most effective that I’ve seen her. The adrenaline rush of being out there with the fans and her teammates gives her that ‘feeling’ that you crave. That’s what competitors like…they like to be back in the arena.”
Wallace extended her string of consecutive scoreless innings to start the season to 38. She recorded double digits in strikeouts for the fourth time in five starts.
“They are both locked in,” Lotief remarked on Hamilton and Wallace’s performance. “What I’ve observed is their competitive mindset and how locked in they are mentally.
“Their motives have changed since they were younger,” Lotief added. “It’s now about the competition, but not the physical part. It’s the mental part. And, now it’s not about them anymore. It’s about their teammates and the fans. That’s the real transformation. I’ve seen both of those kids mature to another level.”
The matchup with Hofstra (4-5) featured a similar beginning to Friday’s battle as Hamilton and Taylor Pirone traded zeros through the first two innings.
DJ Sanders led off the Cajuns half of the third inning with a single to right field. Two batters later Haley Hayden placed a single behind the second base bag. Landry then lofted a three-run home run over the right field wall for a 3-0 lead.
An outfield assist from Aleah Craighton, which threw out Michaela Tansue attempting to stretch a single into a double, notched the third out of the bottom of the fourth and kept a Pride base runner from scoring.
The Cajuns added three runs in the fifth inning. Landry’s third hit of the game plated Kelli Martinez (hit by pitch), then Lexie Elkins homered to left center for two more runs upping the lead to 6-0.
Two Hofstra errors in the sixth inning caused the game to get away from the visitors. Louisiana picked up an additional three runs to enforce the run rule.
Landry’s three hits marked a season-high. Her four RBI tied a season-high (4 vs. Central Arkansas, Feb. 7).
Louisiana and Missouri State (6-7) played hitless through the first 2-1/2 innings and Wallace and MSU’s Erin Struemph zipped through the lineups.
Martinez singled with one out in the bottom of the third inning for the game’s first hit. Later in the frame, with two outs, Landry delivered another game-changing home run for a 2-0 Cajuns lead.
Wallace clamped down striking out six of the next eight Bears batters and continued her no-hit effort until a two-out single by Chelsea Jones in the seventh inning.
A Craighton RBI triple, followed by a pair of double steals would push across three more runs in the sixth inning to give Wallace more breathing room.
DIAMOND NOTES: The win over Hofstra marked the 700th all-time at Lamson Park (now 701-102-1)...At 13-0, the Ragin' Cajuns are off to their best start since opening the 2012 season at 29-0...Louisiana has homered at least once in all 13 games…The Cajuns have homered multiple times in nine of 13 games…Shellie Landry completed the day’s action 5-for-6 with six RBI…With seven home runs, Landry has surpassed her total from 2014 (five)…Jordan Wallace allowed just one hit vs. Missouri State and has surrendered only six hits over 38 innings pitched…Samantha Walsh and Kelli Martinez’s seven-game hitting streaks were snapped in the Hofstra contest…Aleah Craighton’s two hits vs. Missouri State marked her team-leading eighth multiple-hit game of the season…Shellie Landry now has a team-high six multiple-RBI games…Leandra Maly served as designated player vs. Missouri State in place of Meagan Thomas, marking the first lineup change for the Cajuns since Feb. 7 vs. Central Arkanas (span of 10 games)…Cajuns pitching has tossed 11 shutouts in 13 games and has given up just four runs (two earned) in 82 innings…Of her 15 base hits, 10 (3 doubles, 7 home runs) have gone for extra bases for Shellie Landry...Louisiana and Missouri State met for the first time since Feb. 16, 2002 and first time at Lamson Park since a March doubleheader in 1993…The Cajuns improved to 10-1 all-time vs. Hofstra and 8-0 vs. Missouri State.
Alford Knocks in Six, GSU Winners of Four Straight?
ATLANTA – Behind five home runs and six doubles, the Georgia State softball team picked up wins over Mount St. Mary’s and Presbyterian on Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Robert E. Heck Softball Complex.
Callie Alford led the way with six RBI, two home runs, a double and three runs scored. Ivie Drake chipped in four RBI and hit two homers of her own. The Panthers are now winners of four straight and improve to 7-2 in 2015.
Alford drove in four, Drake knocked in two and Eron Milton got her first win of the season in a 10-4 wire-to-wire GSU victory over Mount St. Mary’s.
The Panthers started fast with a three-run bomb by Alford to give GSU a lead in the top of the first. Taylor Anderson and Morgan Brown both walked to start the game before Alford blasted one to deep left to bring them home.
After two scoreless frames, Mount St. Mary’s tied the game 3-3 with a pair of home runs in the bottom of the fourth. However, GSU responded with two runs on an RBI single by Alford and RBI-double by Megan Litumbe in the fifth to reclaim the lead.
Georgia State added some insurance in the top of the sixth thanks to a RBI single by Brown and a two-run shot by Drake. The Panthers added a final run in the top of the seventh and made quick work in the bottom half to secure the win.
After falling behind early, the Panthers roared back to win 9-2 over Presbyterian thanks to six-straight scoreless innings pitched by Taylor Thorpe. The sophomore went the distance, scattered eight hits and allowed just two runs to earn her third victory of the year and remain undefeated.
Anderson, Alford and Drake all finished with two RBI while eight different Panthers scored. The Blue Hose jumped on top 2-0 in the top of the first and they held that lead until the fourth.
In the bottom of the frame, Georgia State sent 12 batters to the plate and score six runs to take a 6-2 lead into the fifth. Alford hit a two-run bomb, her second of the day, while Ashley Christy, Mallory Koepke and Drake also drove in runs.
GSU added two to its lead in the fifth thanks to a two-RBI double to left center by Anderson. Drake then hit a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth the cap the scoring for the Panthers before Thorpe recorded the final three outs for her complete game win.
Follow along with Georgia State on Twitter (@GSU_Softball) and Facebook for the latest news. For softball season tickets call 404-403-4020 or click here.
No. 22 Jaguar Softball Run-Rules Both Saturday Opponents
MOBILE, Ala. – The No. 22 University of South Alabama softball bounced back from a Friday loss to Chattanooga with back-to-back run-rule defeats of Ball State and Sam Houston State on Saturday at the 2015 South Alabama Invitational at Jaguar Field.
The Jaguars (10-3) put up a season-high 14 runs in its 14-6 victory over the Cardinals, which was cut short after six innings thanks to a six-run sixth inning, before shutting out the Bearkats in the nightcap, winning by an 8-0 margin in five frames.
USA outscored its opponents, 22-6, and outhit them, 22-10, on Saturday, moving to 10-3 on the year. The Jaguars batted .478 on the day, slugging .761 and recording an overall on-base percentage of .565. South Alabama's pitching staff held opponents to a .217 batting average.
USA junior center fielder was 4-for-6 in both games with three RBI and three runs scored. She reached base for the 13th time in as many games this season in the nightcap.
Senior shortstop Kaitlyn Griffith tied Jaguar game records in home runs and RBI against Ball State after going 3-for-3 with six RBI, three runs scored and a pair of homers. The Centre, Ala., native finished with seven RBI on the day. Sophomore Amanda Minahan was 3-for-6 with three runs scored on Saturday, while senior Amanda Herron drove in four runs, and classmate Blair Johnson scored three runs.
Freshmen pitchers Devin Brown (5-2) and Kalen McGill (4-0) each picked up wins on Saturday, with the former striking a career-high 15 batters to no walks against Sam Houston State and recording her second save against Ball State.
"The sign of a good team is one that responds after things don't go the way you want the day before, and our kids came out today and had strong bats," said USA Head coach Becky Clark. "Our offense was really good today. Any time you get beat, you want to take it out on the teams you play after, and I think our team did that today.
"Also, our pitchers gave us a chance to win today," she added. "Even more than Devin's strikeouts, I'm happy about her not allowing any walks. We talked about what would be a step forward for her, and it was attacking the strike zone."
The Jaguars close out the 2015 South Alabama Invitational on Sunday with a 1:30 p.m. contest versus Jacksonville. Links to live stats and live video can be found on the Jaguar schedule page. In-game Twitter updates are provided via the program's official handle @USAJagsSoftball.
Game One – South Alabama 14, Ball State 6 (6 inn.)
The Jaguars stacked four runs on the Cardinals in the bottom of the first inning, beginning with Johnson's bases-loaded walk, which allowed Minahan to score. Griffith followed with a two-run double to left field that brought around sophomore catcher Chloe Rathburn and Pilkington. Johnson scored the fourth run on Herron's groundout.
Ball State answered with a run in the top of the second when Amanda Arnett, who drew a leadoff walk, scored on a fielder's choice after advancing to third a play before on a Jaguar throwing error.
The Cardinals added three more to tie the contest in the top of the third on an RBI single from Hanne Stuedemann and RBI doubles from Hayley Cruthers and Shelbie Scamihorn. Loren Chilar scored the first run after reaching on an infield single and moving to second on Emily Dabkowski's sacrifice bunt. Arnett scored the second of her three runs for the second run.
Griffith's first homer, one of the solo variety, put the Jaguars ahead, 5-4, in the bottom of the third.
Herron supplied a three-run double to right center in the bottom of the fourth to put USA ahead, 8-4, scoring Griffith and Johnson, who each walked, and Linn, who pinch ran for Rathburn after the latter singled to right field.
Ball State drew within two runs in the top of the fifth when Arnett scored on a Jaguar throwing error, and Scamihorn lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score Cruthers.
The Jaguar offense exploded for six runs in the bottom of the sixth, forcing the mercy rule into effect, beginning with Griffith's three-run homer, which scored Rathburn (single) and Johnson (walk). Messer brought in pinch-runner Kaleigh Todd with a sacrifice fly, before a Cardinal throwing error allowed Haleigh Lowe and Kristian Foster to score the final pair of runs.
McGill earned the win after striking out one to one walk and allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits in five innings. Brown earned her second save of the year after striking out one to a walk and allowing no hits in one inning.
Carolyn Wilmes (0-2) took the loss for Ball State after giving up six runs (all earned) on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings. Starter Sammi Cowger went 2/3 of an inning, giving up four runs (all earned) on a pair of Jaguar hits. Reliever Jocelyn Rivera gave up four runs (two earned) on three hits in one-third of an inning.
The run total was USA's highest since a 15-9 win over Lehigh at the Citrus Classic in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 22, 2014.
Game Two – South Alabama 8, Sam Houston State 0 (5 inn.)
USA, again, wasted no time in getting on the board in the nightcap, going up 6-0 in the first two innings.
After Messer and Minahan each singled to lead things off in the bottom of the first, Pilkington delivered a two-run double to right center, putting USA ahead, 2-0. After Pilkington advanced to third on a wild pitch, Johnson drove her in with a double to left field wall.
Sam Houston State left three runners on in the top of the second after Tiffany Castillo reached on a Jaguar fielding error, and Hannah Marino and Ashley Kopps reached after swinging striekouts via a wild pitch and passed ball, respectively. Brown forced a pop up to first base to wiggle out of the jam.
Foster scored USA's fourth unanswered run in the bottom of the second when she came around on Messer's RBI single to left field. Foster drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on Linn's sacrifice bunt. Minahan singled to left field to score Messer, and Pilkington drove Minahan in on a base hit to center field.
The Jaguars tacked two more on in the bottom of the fourth when pinch-hitter Taylor Bahos grounded out to score Todd, who singled to lead off, and Griffith lifted a sacrifice fly to plate Pilkington, who was hit by a pitch.
Brown struck out the side in the top of the fifth to enact the mercy rule. She moved to 5-2 on the year with the win after striking out 15 to no walks and allowing no runs on a pair of hits. Meme Quinn took the loss, falling to 1-2 after giving up eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits. Tayler Atkinson recorded one strikeout in one-third of an inning of relief.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
Texas State's Kendall Wiley Launches Four Home Runs In Softball's Split
MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – The Texas State softball team earned the split Saturday afternoon, earning an 8-0 shutout win over Florida International before falling to Robert Morris by a score of 7-5 in game two. Texas State now sits at 7-7 overall for the year.
Offensive highlights for the afternoon include junior first baseman Kendall Wiley recording four home runs on the day, including three in three at bats in the night cap against Robert Morris. Wiley now leads the team with six home runs on the year.
Texas State recorded eight hits on the day, seven of which left the ball park. Along with Wiley’s four, Kelli Baker, Courtney Harris, and Kortney Koroll all recorded home runs.
The first contest of the game only lasted five innings as Florida International was unable to overcome the four runs in the second, two in the third, and two in the fourth that the Bobcats put on the board. Harris got the Bobcats started in the first with a grand slam for her first home run of the season.
A solo shot in the bottom of the third inning by Wiley ignited Texas State to scoring two in the inning. After Wiley’s homer, Bianca Prado made her way to the bases by way of a walk and proceeded to move around after stealing second and scoring on an error by the FIU shortstop.
The last two runs of the game for Texas State were credited to Koroll who launched her fourth home run of the season. Harris was standing on first at the time of the home run after getting hit by a pitch.
Randi Rupp earned the victory in game one as she pitched in all five innings and allowed just five hits. The freshman pitcher struck out four in game one while allowing no walks.
In game two, the Bobcats put a run up on the board in the first, second, and fourth innings. Baker led the game off with a home run in the lead-off spot before Wiley launched homers in the second and fourth innings.
After owning a 3-1 lead through four innings, the Bobcats relinquished their lead in the top of the fifth as Robert Morris put together three runs. The Colonials then tacked on three more in the sixth to take a 7-3 lead over Texas State.
Wiley’s bat then came alive again in the sixth with her fourth home run of the day, but two runs would prove to not be enough as the Bobcats were ultimately handed their seventh loss of the season.
For the day, Rupp struck out a total of nine batters as she sat down five in two innings pitched against the Colonials. Taylor Webb was handed the loss in game two after allowing eight hits and six runs by the Colonials.
Texas State will conclude play tomorrow with a game against Wichita State at 8 a.m. and Harvard at 10:30 a.m. For more information, check out www.txstatebobcats.com.
Troy Softball Splits in Day Two of Trojan Invitational, Game Times Changed for Final Day
TROY, Alabama - The Troy softball team split on Saturday in the Trojan Invitational, at the Troy Softball Complex by losing the first game of the day to Northern Illinois, 6-5, before taking down UConn, 10-0, in the second game of the day.
The games on the final day of action of the Trojan Invitational are being changed with the first game between Northern Illinois and UConn beginning at 9 a.m.,The second game, between Troy and Evansville is slated to begin at 11 a.m.
Northern Illinois 6, Troy 5
Troy (5-7) battled back to take a 4-3 lead in the second, after trailing 3-0 after the
first inning of play. Troy added another in the third to extend its lead to 5-3 after
Northern Illinois (4-5) started the game by scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. The first came on a single through the right side by Becca Harnish and
Alaynie Wollard, the next batter for the Huskies cleared the bases with a two-RBI
The Trojans came back in the second as Amanda Winters got things started for Troy
with a lead-off double. Carli Kayler singled to left field to score the first run of the
day for the Trojans. Hannah Day hit a two-out single up the middle to give the
Trojans to tie the game at three. Troy took the lead with a Michelle Phelps single.
The third inning saw Troy add another run by playing small ball. Khadija Neely
walked to start the inning, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Heather
Johnston. Carli Kayler drove in `Neely with a double to right center field. Kayler went
2-for-3 with two RBIs in the game.
Northern Illinois scored three runs on a three hits in the top of the seventh to take
the lead, which clinched the win for the Huskies.
Jaycee Affeldt (2-2) took the loss for the Trojans, but struck out six batters in six innings of work.
Troy (6-7) scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to win to clinch a 10-0
victory over UCONN, in large thanks to a walk-off home run by Amanda Winters. Troy broke open the game in the second inning when Hannah Day singled up the
middle to score Kayler and Affeldt, who both reached on walks.
The Trojans scored three runs in the third inning and added one more insurance
run in the fourth to take a 6-0 lead heading into the fifth inning.
The fifth inning started with a walk by Carli Kayler and then a single by Benton
advanced Kayler to second. The two would advance a base via a sacrifice bunt by
Day. An RBI single by Phelps gave the Trojans a seven run lead. Winters blasted an
0-2 pitch over the left field wall to give Troy a walk-off win.
Affeldt (3-1) picked up the win for the Trojans pitching five innings only allowing
five hits and while striking out three.
Benton led Troy going 4-for-4 on the night with two RBIs. Five other Trojan batters
got a hit in the game, with four of the five driving in at least one run.
For more information on Troy softball visit TroyTrojans.com or follow us on Twitter at @TroyTrojansSB.
Wilcox’s Walk-Off Double Takes Eagles Past Bradley in Day Two Finale
STATESBORO, GA. – An up-and-down day two of the Eagle Classic II was punctuated with a walk-off double from Lindsey Wilcox in the bottom of the ninth. The RBI for Wilcox handed the Eagles a 3-2 extra innings win over Bradley in the night cap. Georgia Southern fell 9-0 in Saturday’s first game to North Carolina. The Eagles close this weekend’s tournament with a 3:30 p.m. game against Dayton in the last of four games on Sunday at Eagle Field.
GAME ONE – GS 0 – UNC 8 – 5 innings
North Carolina scored four runs in the first inning and didn’t look back to take the 8-0 win over the Eagles in Saturday’s first game. The Tar Heels tacked on runs in the fourth, and three in the fifth to end the game after five frames.
Starting left fielder Emily Snider recorded three of the Eagles’ four hits in the game. She was able to reach second base in the first inning, but ensuing outs stranded her twice in the game.
GAME TWO – GS 3 – BRADLEY 2 – 9 innings
Starting pitcher Brooke Red started Saturday’s second game throwing bullets, she did not allow a hit through the first 2.2 innings. She pitched all nine innings for the victory with 10 strikeouts while not allowing an earned run.
Six different Eagles collected hits in the game, led by a 4-for-4 game from Lexi Allen. The Eagles got their first run of the day in the sixth inning to tie the game, 1-1, as Brianna McLendon drove in AJ Hamilton and punished the Braves for an error earlier in the inning.
Neither team could score in the seventh as the Eagles went to extra innings for the second time this weekend. Red worked through a bases loaded jam in the eighth, but the home side was unable to capitalize on an Allen single in the bottom half of the frame.
Bradley played small ball to get its tiebreaker runner in from second, but the Eagles clamped down and prevented the Braves from scoring any further runs.
A sacrifice fly by Morgan Robinson plated Taylor Rogers from third in the bottom of the ninth and tied the game again at 2-2 with one out and runners on second and third. Wilcox stepped in and laced the first pitch to left field for a walk-off double to score Snider from third.
Next up for the Eagles is the final game of the Eagle Classic II on Sunday afternoon against Dayton. The Eagles play the Flyers at 3:30 p.m. in the last of four games on the docket.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. For tickets to Georgia Southern athletics events, call 1-800-GSU-WINS or visit GSEagles.com.
Offense Powers Warhawks to Doubleheader Split
CONWAY, Ark. – The Warhawk offense posted 13 runs as ULM (12-3) spilt Saturday’s doubleheader at Farris Field.
After being shutout in game one, The Warhawks answered back with a run-rule victory over Arkansas Pine Bluff.
Freshman Cheyanne Lyon led the charge with three hits and three RBI between the two games. Junior Faith Bohack was close behind with two hits and three RBI.
Freshmen Megan Long and Carlie Comeaux made big impacts in the second game with three RBI between them.
Senior Jessica Colliver pick up her third win dealing five innings of one-run softball and striking out six batters.
Game One vs. Central Arkansas (L, 0-8)
Offense woes keep ULM off the board as the Warhawks drop a 0-8 decision to Central Arkansas (7-5) in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader at Farris Field.
Lyon picked up ULM’s lone hit on the night with a single to left field, marking her fourth hit on the weekend.
Freshman Paige Porter made her seventh start of the year and dropped her first loss after going 2.2 innings with one strikeout.
After the Warhawks went down in order to start the game, Central Arkansas put two on with one out.
Jessie Taylor would single through the left side, but sophomore Rochelle Roberts launched a rocket to junior Amye Barre to make the out at home and keep the Bears off the board.
The Warhawks and Bears exchanged a scoreless second inning, but UCA led off the third inning with a homer to right center to jump on the board first (0-1 UCA).
ULM would pick up two quick outs, but the Bears used three walks and three two-out singles to extend the lead to 0-4 after three.
The Bears used a leadoff double and a sacrifice fly to pick up a fifth run in the fourth inning.
Lyon would spoil Kylee Studioso’s no-hit bid in the fifth with a single to left field, but the Warhawks could not drive her home.
Central Arkansas used two homeruns in the sixth inning to cap a 0-8 win.
Game Two vs. Arkansas Pine Bluff (L, 13-5)
Warhawks take a 13-5 five-inning, run-rule victory over the Golden Lions of Arkansas Pine Bluff (0-12) to split Saturday’s doubleheader.
Five Warhawks had a multi-hit game with Lyon and junior Faith Bohack picking up three RBI each. Long and Comeaux picked up their first career RBI with the two combing for four hits and three RBI.
Colliver picked up her third wing after coming in for relief in the first inning. Colliver pitched five innings of four-hit, one-run softball and struck out six Golden Lions.
After a leadoff walk and bunt single, UAPB got on the board early in the first inning with a bases clearing double to left field (0-2 UAPB). The Golden Lions used a one-out single to send two more home and jump to a 0-4 first-inning lead.
The Warhawks answered in the bottom half of the inning. Redshirt senior Miyuki Navarrete led the inning off drawing a walk. Lyon would triple to center field and would score on an UAPB error (2-4 UAPB).
Senior Alexis Cacioppo reached on a second Golden Lion error and Barre would get aboard with a hit by pitch. Bohack doubled to right center to score Cacioppo (3-4 UAPB).
Comeaux picked up her first career RBI with a ground out to first to tie the game. Long singled through the right side to give ULM the 5-4 lead after one.
The Golden Lions answered in the top of the second with back-to-back, two-out hits to tie the game at 5-5.
The Warhawks battle back in the bottom of the second inning. Lyon would reached on a hit by pitch with one out. Cacioppo singled through the left side to put two Warhawks on board.
After a fly out from Barre, Bohack singled up the middle to score Cacioppo (6-5 ULM). Runners would advance on a wild pitch from Hailey Forbes. Senior Molly Mackey knocked a two-RBI single up the middle to give the Warhawks an 8-5 advantage after two innings.
After exchanging a scoreless third inning, Cacioppo singled through the left side to lead off the fourth. Barre would reach on a fielding error to put runners on the corners.
Bohack would knock the sacrifice fly to left field to put the Warhawks up 9-5. Comeaux would hit an RBI single through the left side to push the score to 10-5 after four.
Senior Mackenzie Miller led off the fifth inning reaching base on a UAPB fielding error. Navarrete singled to short to put two Warhawks on. Lyon doubled to left center field to pick up to RBI (12-5 ULM).
Cacioppo would reach on a fielding error to put Warhawks on the corners. Barre singled up the middle to score Lyon and clinch the 13-5 victory.
The Warhawks return home on Tuesday, Feb. 24 to face Southeastern Louisiana at 5 p.m. at the ULM Softball Complex.
For the latest on ULM softball, visit ULMWarhawks.com and follow the team on Twitter (@ULM_Softball) and Facebook (facebook.com/ULMSoftball).
UTA leaves chances on base on Day 2
ARLINGTON, Texas – UT Arlington struggled on Saturday to bring home runs after leaving 22 on base in two games at the UT Arlington Invitational at Allan Saxe Field.
The Mavericks (9-5) were swept for the first time this season with losses to UMKC and DePaul in Day 2 action. UTA was able to bring the game within three in the day’s opener, but the 5-0 advantage through two innings helped lift UMKC. In UTA’s finale, DePaul overcame a Mavs’ 4-2 lead with a six-run sixth.
“I feel like we are swinging the bats well and our run production is doing a good job, our youth in our pitching staff is showing right now," UT Arlington coach Kristie Fox said. "Overall they are competing and fighting and when you go through times like this sometimes it is hard to get out of it. As long as they stick together I think we will be alright"
The final day of the UT Arlington Inivitational has been cancelled due to anticipated bad weather.
Game 1- UMKC 11, UT Arlington 8
UMKC jumped out to an early lead in UTA’s opener and the Mavericks were unable to complete a late comeback.
The Kangaroos opened the game by striking with a quick two runs. Following a single to start the game, a home run to left field handed the Mavs an early deficit. UMKC built on the lead with four runs on five hits in the second.
UTA was able to answer in the second with three consecutive singles to begin the frame, including an RBI single from Rebecca Stokes to score Meagan Michele. Britnea Barilli would score Stokes later in the inning with a sacrifice fly to left.
The Kangaroos came right back in the third with three runs to set the stage for a back-and-forth game with UTA coming back right three again in the bottom half.
Back-to-back singles started things off as Mya Anderson and Shelbi Sikes both had singles up the middle. Stokes would bring home Anderson on another sac-fly, while Sandra Mendoza would bring home Sikes two batters later on an error. UMKC walked UTA’s next batter with the bases loaded to bring home Jolene Schaefer.
UMKC picked up another run in the fifth to pad its lead before the Mavs attempted a late come back, scoring three runs over the final two innings to fall just short.
The Mavericks left 14 on base in the contest.
Game 2- DePaul 7, UT Arlington 4
A five-run sixth stole momentum away from the Mavericks as the Blue Demons picked up a 7-4 win in UTA’s final game of the day.
UTA had hits from six of its nine starters in the game, including a pair from Sandra Mendoza, Haley Henson and Kacey Everett.
The Mavs picked up a run in each of the first three innings to build a 3-1 lead. Nina Villanueva doubled off of the right-center field wall to score Mendoza, who reached on a leadoff walk. Everett’s double in the second would score Henson with one out.
Villanueva completed the stretch, as she would score on an error in the third.
The Blue Demons and Mavericks exchanged runs in the fifth before DePaul took the lead in the sixth. The team would run five runs across the plate on four hits.
Errors Doom App State in 6-2 Loss to Winthrop
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Errors doomed Appalachian State University softball from the get-go on Saturday evening in an eventual 6-2 loss to Winthrop.
The Mountaineers (4-5) committed six errors in the game with four contributing to a two-run first inning for the Eagles. Paige Haley reached second base on a single followed by an error in center field. Haley would eventually come around to score following another error with Maddie Antone also crossing the plate via an error.
A 2-0 Winthrop lead extended to 3-0 on an error to start the third inning. Zhame Glover made it to second base safely on a Black and Gold error and eventually scored on back-to-back ground outs.
In the fifth inning, a 3-0 Eagle lead ballooned to 6-0. Haley led off with a triple and came in on an RBI single. Sara Allen worked a bases loaded walk and then a two-out error led to the third run of the inning for the Eagles.
A late rally was started by the Mountaineers in the seventh inning, which included RBI singles from Haley Stewart and Cara Parker but were not enough to jump start anything substantial for the Apps.
Vanessa Ciocatto started in the circle for Appalachian State and pitched four innings, allowing just three hits and two earned runs while walking two and striking out three.
Alissa Schoelkopf came into the game in relief and pitched two innings, allowing one hit and one earned run while walking two and fanning four batters.
The Mountaineers will conclude the Cougar Classic on Sunday afternoon with a doubleheader against both UMass and College of Charleston beginning at 1:30 p.m.