THE LEADNo. 26 DBU fell to Louisiana-Monroe in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Horner Ballpark. ULM left fielder Nathan Pugh and catcher Spencer Hemphill went 5-for-9 and combined for four RBIs to fuel the Warhawk offense.
Brandon Bell (1-2) earned the win after tossing seven innings and giving up just one run on six hits with three strikeouts.
Dalton Higgins (2-2) suffered the loss for the Patriots, allowing five runs on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings of work. Anthony Herrera picked up his third save of the season with a perfect, 1-2-3 ninth inning.
Hemphill gave the Warhawks a 2-0 lead with a two-RBI single up the middle after Pugh's sacrifice bunt put runners at second and third. ULM found more success on bunts with a successful squeeze play by Josh Faciane, allowing Danny Springer to score. Pugh increased the Warhawk lead to 5-0 with a two-run single to center, his second hit of the day.
The Patriots cut into the lead on a two-out single by
Daniel Sweet to knock in
Austin Listi in the bottom of the fourth inning. ULM regained a five-run lead in the seventh when Hemphill got caught in a rundown between first and second, allowing Pugh to score from third. DBU trimmed the lead to 6-2 in the eighth inning on a run-scoring groundout off the bat of
Darick Hall.
Trooper Reynolds continued the late-inning rally with an RBI-single over the second baseman Faciane.
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW - ULM went 7-for-17 with runners on, while DBU went just 2-for-16.
- The Patriots pitching staff limited the Warhawks to just one hit on 12 at bats with two outs.
- DBU's 4-5-6 hitters were responsible for virtually all of Sunday's offense, going 4-for-9 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
IN THE NUMBERS114 – Brandon Bell reached a season-high 114 pitches in Sunday's start.
7 – The Patriots left seven men on base in the loss.
3 – ULM hit three extra-base hits, while DBU could only muster one.
UP NEXT FOR THE PATRIOTSDBU hosts Incarnate Word on Tuesday, March 22, at 6:30 p.m. at Horner Ballpark.
