Offense powers Warhawks to third 20-Run outing in 26-8 win over Redbirds

MONROE, La. – For the third time in the last five games, the ULM baseball team topped 20 runs, this time tallying 26 runs, as they cruised to a series-tying 26-8 win over Illinois State Saturday afternoon at Warhawk Field.

“We have a chance to come out tomorrow and take the series, which ultimately, that’s what we have to learn how to do when we get into our tough conference schedule,” ULM head coach Michael Federico said. “This is a really good club. They’re not going to back down even though they got beat pretty good today. I was proud of our guys. You could kind of feel that it was going to be a little bit of an offensive day. It’s the first time the wind has really been blowing out.”

ULM has scored 20 or more runs in three different games in the same season for the first time since 1998, when the Warhawks defeated Louisiana College, 23-0, Grambling State, 20-0, and Louisiana Tech, 21-5.

Offense was abundant for both teams early. Illinois State jumped on the board in the top of the first inning. An RBI single by Joe Butler and a two-run home run by Jordan Libman gave the Redbirds a 3-0 lead.

ULM responded in the bottom of the first inning. Andrew Beesley picked up an RBI single and Mason Holt scored when Danny DeSimone grounded into a double play, as they cut the Redbird lead to 3-2.

ISU added back to their lead in the top of the second. Braedon Blackford and Aidan Huggins each picked up RBI singles to chase ULM starting pitcher Kayleb Sanderson from the game after just 1 1/3 innings. The Redbirds led 5-3.

ULM answered again in the bottom of the second. Colby Deaville and Trace Henry had an RBI single apiece, as they chased Illinois State starting pitcher Brett Wicklund after just 1 1/3 innings. The Warhawks again trailed by a run, 5-4.

Bryson Wrobel, who took over for Sanderson in the second inning, settled in and worked a scoreless top of the third inning. ULM took the lead in the bottom half of the inning, tacking on four runs. Logan Wurm hit a two-RBI double down the left field line and Henry had his second RBI single in the inning as ULM grabbed an 8-5 lead through three innings.

“He got the first zero,” Federico said of Wrobel. “Then we end up scoring the four-spot right after it. That was huge.”

In the fourth inning, Justin Barton entered the game to replace Wrobel, who was injured when he was hit by a batted ball. The duo combined to throw another scoreless frame, as Barton induced an inning-ending double play. The Warhawks added to the lead in the bottom half of the inning on a solo home run by Ryan Humeniuk to lead 9-5.

Illinois State picked up a run in the top of the fifth, but ULM answered again. Two errors and a passed ball played big roles in another four-run inning, as the Warhawks expanded the lead to 13-6.

The sixth inning was where the Warhawks put any remaining doubt in the outcome of the game to bed. The Warhawks exploded for 11 runs, their second double-digit run inning this week after going for a school-record 19 runs in the fourth inning Wednesday. Holt hit a two-run home run in the inning, while Beesley hit a two-RBI single and Danny DeSimone connected for an RBI double. ULM led 24-6.

“We get as many runs as we can, especially getting extra bullpen arms in the game,” Federico said. “Hopefully that helps you win on Sunday. The goal is not just to score one every inning, it’s to score as many as you can. It definitely was a fun inning for our guys.”

Federico said ULM put pressure on the Redbirds.

“It was big hits, but there was also pressure from walks and things like that,” Federico said. “If we can get our offense going like that, then the big hits end up coming, and you definitely had some of those. I’ve got to commend our offense. They were very focused.”

The Warhawks added two more runs in the seventh inning on RBI singles by Ryan Cupit and Beesley. Illinois State tacked on two runs in the eighth inning for the final 26-8 margin.

Barton (2-0) earned his second win, throwing 3 2/3 innings out of the bullpen, giving up a run on two hits with a walk and five strikeouts. Michael Sebby (1-1) suffered the loss, giving up four runs on three hits with one walk over 2/3 of an inning.

The Warhawks and Redbirds play the rubber match of the series at 1 p.m. Sunday. For tickets, visit ULMWarhawks.com. Links to live video, audio and stats are available online at ULMWarhawks.com.