MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Brandon
Alexander led ULM (6-5) at the plate with two hits, two RBI and one run scored
as the team held on for a 5-3 victory over Memphis (7-4) in the series finale
Sunday at FedExPark. With the victory
the Warhawks snapped the Tigers six-game win streak.
The Warhawks recorded inning-ending double plays in the
first, second and third inning. The
three double plays turned by ULM are the most since the club turned five at
UL-Lafayette (May 18, 2012).
ULM starter Alex Dumaine (1-0) recorded the third
straight quality start for the Warhawks as he allowed just one run on five hits
with three walks and four strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work. Shelby Aulds recorded the final two outs of
the game to earn the save.
Brandon Alexander led off the top of the third inning
with a double off of the wall in right field.
Dalton Todd followed and reached first base thanks to a throwing error
by third baseman Drew Griffin. With two
runners on and no outs, Dalton Herrington laid down a sacrifice bunt and Tiger
pitcher Alex Gunn's throw to third was errant, allowing Alexander to score the
first run of the game.
With two outs in the third inning and two runners in
scoring position, Justin Stawychny hit a looping double down the right field
line. Stawychny recorded RBI number four
and five of the season as Todd and Herrington crossed home plate to put ULM
ahead 3-0.
Memphis scored its first run of the contest in the bottom
of the fifth inning. Zach Willis led off
the inning with a single to left field and moved to second on Drew Griffin's
groundout to short. With two outs in the
inning, Ford Wilson doubled to left field allowing Willis to score and trim the
Warhawk lead to two runs (3-1).
ULM responded with two runs in the top of the sixth
inning to take a 5-1 lead. With one out,
Taylor Abdalla was hit by a pitch and Kodie Tidwell singled through the left
side to give ULM a pair of base runners.
Jeff Fuller loaded the bases for the Warhawks as he drew a walk and
Alexander followed with a two-RBI single to the gap in left center to push the
ULM lead to four runs.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Drew Griffin was hit
by a pitch with one out and then with a 2-0 count to Ethan Gross, the Warhawks
made a call to the bullpen as Tyler Bray replaced Dumaine. Gross drew a walk and Carter White singled to
left to load the bases, but the Tigers were unable to score as Bray recorded a
foul out and a ground out to end the inning.
Memphis was pushed another run across in the eighth as Drew
Allen scored from second base on a dropped pop up by ULM second baseman Jeff
Fuller that allowed Drew Griffin to reach first base. Allen's unearned run closed the ULM lead to
three runs, 5-2.
The Tigers again cut into the Warhawk lead in the bottom
of the ninth. With one out, Jake Little
tripled to the gap in right center and Nate Rupiper reached on a fielding error
by Kodie Tidwell. Little scored and
pulled Memphis with in two runs (5-3) on Bryce Beeler's RBI single through the
left side. Aulds replaced Devin Malone
on the hill and the senior closed out the game as he recorded a pop out and a
strikeout for his first save of the season (second career).
Stawychny aided in the Warhawk effort with one hit and
two RBI.
Memphis starter Alex Gunn (0-1) was tagged with the loss
after three unearned runs scored during his five innings of work. Gunn allowed four hits and struck out four
batters Sunday.
ULM will return to Monroe for a Tuesday night tilt
against McNeese State. First pitch
between the Warhawks and the Cowboys at Warhawk Field is slated for 6 p.m.
