Six-RBI performance from Bohack lifts ULM over Georgia State
ATLANTA – Junior Faith Bohack plated six of the ULM’s nine runs as the Warhawks (28-17, 10-9 SBC) topped Georgia State (32-19; 11-10 SBC) in the series finale at Robert E. Heck Softball Stadium.
With 10 wins in conference play, ULM ties the most Sun Belt Conference wins in a single season in program history with a chance to break the record with a lone series left with UL-Lafayette.
With 28 win on the season, the Warhawks have also picked up the most wins in a single-season since 2001 when the program won 31 games.
Bohack led the offense going 2-for-4 with a three-RBI homer and a three-RBI double on the day. Bohack also scored two runs for the Warhawks.
The six-RBI day sets a new single-game high for the junior, breaking her five-RBI, single-game total she set against Morehead State on Feb. 7, 2014. It’s the most RBI in a single game for a Warhawk since senior Alexis Cacioppo drove home six at UL-Lafayette on May 2, 2014.
Bohack brings her season RBI total to 43 to place fifth on the single-season record and is just four RBI shy of setting a new single-season record.
Senior Mackenzie Miller, junior Amye Barre and senior Alexis Cacioppo picked up lone RBI on the day with Cacioppo knocking a solo homer on the day.
Senior Jessica Colliver made the start, but was knocked out after a third of an inning as she gave up three runs off three hits. Freshman Paige Porter came in for a relief appearance and dealt five innings of five-hit, shut-out softball.
Sophomore Melanie Coyne close out the game with 1.1 innings in relief as she allowed three runs on five hits.
Porter was tagged with the win to move to 10-4 on the season to put two Warhawk pitchers with double-digit wins.
Georgia State broke the game open early with a walk and three hits to score three runs in the bottom of the first.
Warhawks kick a one-out rally in the top of the second with back-to-back singles from redshirt senior Miyuki Navarrete and Barre. Bohack followed with her seventh homer on the season and second in the series to lock the game up at 3-all.
The long-ball offense came into play again in the top of the third as Cacioppo knocked her fifth of the year on a solo shot to right center to put the Warhawks up 4-3.
After two scoreless innings, the Warhawk offense stretched its lead in the top of the sixth. Sophomore Vanessa Garcia singled to right center and was followed by a hit by pitch to Navarrete to lead off the inning.
Barre battled to draw a walk to load up the bases. Bohack cleared the bases with a double to left center to take her RBI total to six on the day. Bohack advanced to third on the throw on the play.
The Panthers picked up a pop out for an out, but Miller singled to left field to score Bohack and extend the Warhawk lead to 8-3.
Georgia State loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, but the Warhawk defense held tough as Navarrete picked up the line out to leave the bases loaded.
The Warhawks added an insurance run in the seventh inning with a Navarrete single and a double from Barre to push the lead to 9-3.
Georgia State used a two-run homer and an RBI-bunt single in the bottom of the seventh to cut the Warhawk lead to 9-6, but Coyne in a relief appearance closed the scoring chance to secure the ULM victory.
The Warhawks return home for their final regular season series with No. 9 UL-Lafayette on May 2-3 at the ULM Softball Complex. ULM will honor its seven graduating seniors during Senior Day activities held during the series.