ULM uses comeback to even series with Red Wolves

Jonah Bostick, Sports Editor

A comeback win on Friday night highlighted a mixed series at Arkansas State for the Warhawks. 

ULM (15-24; 5-11) took on the Red Wolves (13-22; 4-11) this past weekend in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The Warhawks aimed to get back onto the winning track after a series loss to South Alabama and a loss to Little Rock. 

With the Red Wolves also struggling in conference play, ULM had an opportunity to pick up a couple of wins. 

The Warhawks scored first on Friday night after a Cardell Jones single scored Zach Floyd, but the damage was limited with two runners in scoring position stranded. The Red Wolves tied the game in the bottom of the second after an RBI double scored a run. 

A fielding error by Arkansas State in the top of the third scored Sean Weatherbee to make it a 2-1 game. ULM had another chance to score in the top of the fourth with the bases loaded, but a fly out killed any hopes it had. 

The Warhawks made up for it the next inning. A sacrifice fly by Jake Haggard scored Chenar Brown, and a base hit by Jayson Zmejkoski scored Floyd. The Red Wolves responded accordingly with a two-run homer into left field to make it a 4-3 ballgame. In the top of the seventh, Jones added another RBI to his stat line with a base hit that scored Haggard. 

A sac-fly and a bases-loaded walk in the same inning tied the game up 5-5 for the Red Wolves. Arkansas State took the lead in the bottom of the eighth and looked poised to take the series opener. 

The Warhawks had other plans. In the top of the ninth, ULM had Washburn 90 feet away with two outs. A passed ball scored Washburn to tie the game. A walk and a Jones single put another runner in scoring position. Kade Dupont produced a base hit to take the lead, and Jones scored on a Weatherbee single to extend the lead 8-6. A double play in the bottom of the ninth sealed the win for the Warhawks. 

“They were relentless at the end,” head coach Michael Federico said. “I’m really excited that we were able to find a way to win and win in that fashion as well.”

Game two on Saturday was an entirely different story. The Warhawks elected to pull their pitcher in only the first inning after allowing three runs. Haggard hit a solo shot to left field to make the game 3-1. The Red Wolves responded with a staggering eight runs in the bottom of the second. It was a game to forget for ULM, as Arkansas State scored in every inning except for one. The final score read 25-4 in favor of the Red Wolves. 

With only four more series left in the regular season, the Warhawks look to start a winning streak and enter the Sun Belt Conference Tournament hot. 

ULM sees the field again when it faces Stephen F. Austin at home on Tuesday at 6 p.m.