BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- ULM dropped the finale and the series to WKU Sunday afternoon as the Warhawks fell 9-1 at Nick Denes Field.
ULM, for the third time on the weekend, plated the game's first run. With two outs, Corben Green drew a walk and Justin Stawychny followed with a single through the left side. Dalton Herrington drove in Green with a double to right field. The Warhawks (17-31, 6-18) were unable to push any more runs across as Fuller lined out to left on a diving grab by Adam Levelle.
WKU (24-24, 13-11) responded in the bottom of the frame as Steve Hodgins sent the first pitch he saw from ULM starter Carey Taylor over the wall in right to even the contest at one. The Hilltoppers put runners at the corners thanks to a single to center and a fielding error at third by Judd Edwards. WKU, like ULM, was unable to add to its run total as Taylor struck out two and forced a fly out to left.
After the two teams traded zeros on the scoreboard in the second, third and fourth innings, WKU broke through for four runs in the home half of the fifth to take a 5-1 lead. Four different Hilltopper batters picked up a RBI in the inning and forced a pitching change by ULM as Andrew Richardson replaced Taylor.
WKU struck for four runs again, this time in the seventh, to push its lead to eight runs. Ryan Huck drove in a pair to cap the inning that saw the Hilltoppers set the final tally at 9-1.
ULM's Taylor (1-5) was tagged with the loss after allowing five runs on eight hits in four-plus innings of work. Taylor, who made his second appearance of the weekend, struck out two batters. Aside from Richardson's relief appearance, Jared Dye and Alex Dumaine also saw action Sunday.
Herrington led ULM with two hits and one RBI in the final game.
Justin Hageman (2-1) earned the win as he allowed one run on six hits with three walks and five strikeouts in seven innings of work. Huck led the Hilltoppers with five hits and three RBI in the finale.
The Warhawks will return to action as they make the final road trip of the season to Murfreesboro, Tenn., next weekend. The three-game conference series at Middle Tennessee will begin Friday at 6 p.m., followed by a 4 p.m. start Saturday and a 1 p.m. start Sunday.
