Two-out runs drive Warhawks past Demons, 10-6

NATCHITOCHES, La. – ULM took control with a five-run second inning and held off Northwestern State’s charge with three more runs in the seventh inning and two in the ninth for a 10-6 win Tuesday night at Brown-Stroud Field.

The Warhawks (15-14 overall) scored all 10 runs with two outs in the inning in moving to 2-0 this season against NSU at Brown-Stroud Field. Before this season, ULM had not won in Natchitoches since 2013. The two teams wrap up a three-game midweek series at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Lou St. Amant Field in Monroe.

Bryce Blaser led ULM’s offense with three hits while driving in a run. Jake Haggard had two hits with two RBIs, while Easton Winfield and Michelle Artzberger each had a hit and 3 RBIs. Reese Lipoma had two hits and two RBIs for Northwestern State (10-20) while Balin Valentine hit a 2-run home run, his first of the season.

Both teams elected for bullpen days with conference series starting on Friday. The two sides combined to use 17 pitchers in the game.

Brandt Corley (2-1) earned his second win of the season against NSU. After throwing two innings for the win in the first meeting on Feb. 27, Corley again drew the start and threw two shutout innings, allowing one hit with one strikeout. Parker Seay struck out the side in a scoreless fourth inning, while Brandon Brewer (sixth), Dalton Hitt (seventh) and Dalton Burrell (eighth) each threw scoreless innings.

Austin Anderson (2-1) suffered the loss for NSU. He allowed five runs on four hits with three walks and one strikeout in two innings in the start for the Demons.

ULM opened up the lead in the top of the second inning. Blaser earned his first hit of the day, but was still on first base with two outs. Matt Abshire singled to left center and Hasani Johnson walked to load the bases. Winfield followed with a 2-RBI single to right to bring in Blaser and Abshire for the 2-0 lead. After Colby Lunsford walked, Artzberger roped a bases-clearing double just inside the right-field line to extend the lead to 5-0.

NSU answered with Valentine’s 2-run homer in the third to cut the lead to 5-2.

The Demons loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth inning before Lipoma hit a 2-RBI single to pull NSU within a run, 5-4. However, Davis Oswalt responded by inducing a fielder’s choice and an inning-ending double play to preserve the lead.

ULM was limited to one hit from the third through sixth innings, but broke through again in the seventh. Artzberger worked a one-out walk and Cardell Thibodeaux entered as a pinch runner. With two outs, Kade Dupont was hit by a pitch before Blaser doubled to center to push home Thibodeaux for the 6-4 lead. Jake Haggard followed with a 2-RBI single to left to put the lead back to four, 8-4.

The Warhawks tacked on two more runs in the ninth on a pair of two-out bases-loaded walks.

Northwestern State opened the bottom of the ninth with three straight hits, including a 2-RBI single by Rocco Gump, but Trey Lindsay induced a double play ball and struck out the last batter to end the game.

ULM returns to Sun Belt Conference play at 6 p.m. Friday against the Ragin’ Cajuns at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field at Russo Park.