MONROE, La. – ULM's five-run second inning was not enough in a 9-6 loss to Valparaiso on Wednesday night at Warhawk Field.
Sam Shaikin doubled to lead off the 10th inning, his only hit of the game. Nolan Lodden drove in a pair from second and third with nobody out in the inning to give Valpo an 8-6 lead, and Josh Clark doubled to right center to pad the three-run lead.
The Crusaders made it a new game in the top of the eighth when Nate Palace hit a two-run homer to straightaway right field.
It was a stark contrast from the previous night, when ULM trailed 6-0 after the second inning and rallied for an eventual 18-9 win. Will Daniels and Dalton Todd drew leadoff walks and Josh Faciane moved them over on a sacrifice bunt. Consecutive infield singles followed, with Blake Buckman's getting ULM on the board, before Nathan Reynolds continued his surge with a two-run single to center field.
Nathan Pugh closed the scoring with a laced double to left center field that extended the Warhawks' lead to 5-0.
Valpo closed the deficit to 5-2 its next at-bat when Daniel Delaney doubled in a pair.
ULM extended its lead to 6-3 in the bottom of the fifth without needing a hit. Daniels reached on an error to start things off and moved to third on consecutive wild pitches, setting up Faciane for a sacrifice fly.
Diamond Notes…
-It was ULM's second extra-inning contest of the year after winning the series finale at Southeastern Louisiana.
-Blake Buckman made his first collegiate start and Will Daniels made his first of the season.
-Cole Hendrix made his first appearance since April 15.
-Nathan Pugh drove in a pair of runs for his eighth in the last three contests. Nathan Reynolds also has five in the past three.
-Freshman Blake Buckman collected his first RBI.
-Josh Faciane has had an RBI or hit in five of the last six games.
Up Next…
ULM welcomes Samford for a three-game series. The first pitches on Friday and Saturday are set for 6 p.m. with Sunday's finale set for 1 p.m.
For updates on the baseball squad, be sure to follow the team on Twitter
@ULM_BSB, Facebook (
www.facebook.com/ULMBaseball) and Instagram (
@ULM_BSB).
