After a rough 1-4 start to the softball season, the ULM Warhawks picked up a scrappy 3-2 win against the Stephen F. Austen Lumberjacks on Feb. 10.
In the 2024 season, the Warhawks (2-4) and Lumberjacks (4-2) fought a quick fight, with the Warhawks up by 10 and enforcing the run rule at the fifth inning. In 2025, SFA upped their game during the Warhawk Invitational but still lost by over 3 runs in both games. ULM’s sloppy defense and subpar offense almost allowed SFA to break its 6-year, 3-game losing streak.
In the top of the first, the Warhawks led the Lumberjacks off the batter’s box after three quick and easy outs, thanks to junior P Skylar Waggoner. With ULM up to the home plate, attentive defense by SFA ended the first inning 0-0.
The top of the second saw similar plays, but a few errors and a lucky walk led to ULM loading the bases with one out. Freshman INF Carson Jansky hit herself to first base, but redshirt sophomore INF Morgan Brown was out at home. Subpar pitching by the Lumberjacks walked senior UT Carys Platt to first, advancing junior INF Elle Carter to home for the first run of the game. Junior UT Brooklin Lippert stepped up to bat with bases still loaded, attempted a bunt but outed freshman C Tessie Harrison, ending the second inning.
At the top of the third, the Lumberjacks scored two runs due to a fumbled catch by Junior INF Marrysa Zenzen and an impressive double by SFA’s sophomore SS Jamie Varga.
Neither team allows a run for the next few innings, until ULM’s Sophomore C Hollie Thomas hits a homer to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth. The Warhawks loaded the bases again, but Harrison lacked any follow-through and went out to end the inning.
At the bottom of the seventh, Platt and Lippert on second and third, Zenzen swung at every pitch and struck out quick. Similarly, at the bottom of the eighth, an intentional walk by SFA loaded the bases for a potential huge play by Platt. With two outs and two strikes, the Warhawks would need at least a single to take the lead. Platt hit a weak bunt, outing sophomore OF Cheyenne Jenkins at home and ending the inning with a 2-2 tie.
The game continued to the bottom of the ninth, where junior OF Meagan Brown advanced to third after an error by SFA’s shortstop. Thomas stepped up to bat, and though she did not hit another home run, she hit a single, and Brown ran home for the win.
