MONROE, La. - Each time the University of New Orleans put runs on the
scoreboard, Louisiana-Monroe responded, which included the final two
runs in an 8-6 victory for the Warhawks at Warhawk Field on Saturday
afternoon.
ULM (8-6, 1-3 Sun Belt) scored the final run of the game after loading the bases on
Jake Henderson (2-1) in the bottom of the seventh. SBC Preseason Player of the Year Ben Soignier scored the go-ahead run after Jordy Poche grounded into fielder's choice.
Nick Wade, who entered the game with just two extra base hits on the season for ULM matched the total in his first two at-bats. On the game, Wade batted 2-for-3, hitting a three-run home run in the second inning and scoring again in the fourth after reaching base on a double.
Don Williams (1-0) picked up the win for ULM while Drew Graham was credited with his first save of the season. Williams pitched one-third of an inning, allowing two hits. Graham shut the door on the game, going two innings, allowing just one hit and striking out three.
Henderson dropped his first start in four appearances for UNO (5-9, 1-3 SBC), going 6.1 innings, allowing seven runs, six earned on nine hits. The sophomore struck out three batters while walking four.
Tyler Sanford led the Privateers with a 3-for-4 effort while
Rodarrick Jones added two more hits to UNO's 15-hit total, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Amongst Jones' two hits was his first career extra-base hit, a two-run triple during the five-run second.
UNO had to come from behind early after ULM put two runs on the board in their first visit to the plate as Soignier hit a two-run home run to left field.
The Privateers did not waste anytime in coming back, scoring five in the next frame. The team strung together five consecutive hits, which includes the Jones' triple that plated two runs.
The lead did not last long as ULM scored three runs in the bottom of the second, knotting the score at five runs apiece. After two singles, Wade lifted his first home run of the season to right field, which put in each of the three runs the Warhawks scored in the inning.
In Wade's next appearance at the plate in the fourth inning, he would reach base on a double, scoring on a Jon Prevost single to put ULM up 6-5.
The scoreboard went quiet until the seventh when the Privateers'
Ryan Eden scored on a double steal to tie the score at six.
Nick Schwaner advanced to second from first base as Eden was able to get home on a low throw from the shortstop after the catcher threw to second initially in attempt to retire Schwaner.
ULM responded as they did before, plating a run in the bottom half of the inning to go up 7-6. Soignier doubled to lead off the inning, followed by a Matt Collins walk. A sacrifice bunt by Ryan McMillan advanced the runners before Henderson loaded the bases by intentionally walking Matt Laird.
David Burch came in, getting Poche to ground into fielder's a choice, scoring Soignier.
The Warhawks added another run in the eighth as Wade, who walked and later advanced to second on a wild pitch, scored on a fielding error by
Justin Edwards.
The two teams will conclude their series when they play a doubleheader on Sunday, starting at 1 p.m.
