Corben Green smelled a change-up.
With ULM clinging to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, Green stepped to plate with runners at second and third.
Student assistant coach Caleb Clowers knew the change-up was coming too. He instructed Green to sit on the next pitch.
As the ball travelled across the mound toward the batter’s box, Green knew he was right. He timed it perfectly, laying into the ball with a perfect swing that sent it deep over the right field wall.
Green’s three-run blast broke the game open, allowing ULM (9-13, 1-3) to snap an eight-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory over conference rival Troy (13-7, 1-3) on Friday night at Warhawk Field.
“That’ll get anybody down,” Green said of the losing streak. “Tonight, we got on the right track, stayed relaxed and played baseball.”
The Warhawks received another strong effort from starting pitcher Cale Wine. ULM’s ace pitched his third complete game of the season, surrendering two runs with three walks and five strikeouts.
Troy came into the game with the best team-batting average in the Sun Belt, but got two hits off of Wine.
“I thought we needed somebody to step up and Cale did an outstanding job of doing that…he was on his game,” head coach Jeff Schexnaider said.
ULM got on the scoreboard first in the second inning when catcher Logan Fiasco hit a single through the gap that scored infielder Chris Dudley, who reached base on a passed ball.
The Warhawks swapped scoreless innings with the Trojans in the third and fourth innings before Green’s home run in the fifth.
“We hadn’t had a big inning in a long time, so to score three there helped Cale and helped our defense,” Schexnaider said.
Troy was able to make it interesting in the top of the eighth inning. With the bases loaded, infielder Tyler Vaughn hit a base hit single into right field that scored two runs for the Trojans.
“I tried to get the double play but the guy hit it clear into right field,” Wine said. “I knew I had to keep it right there and not let them tie the game up.”
Schexnaider thought about sending Tyler Bray in for relief, but Wine responded and was able to pick up the win.
Wine improved his record to 3-3 with an ERA of 1.84 on the season.
ULM travels to Natchitoches on Tuesday to face off against Northwestern State. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
