MONROE, La. (KLFY) — Marcus Aranda’s bases-loaded, fielder’s choice in the bottom of the 10^th inning scored Henry Garcia Jr., and ULM earned a 4-3 victory over Louisiana to even its Sun Belt Conference series on Saturday at Lou St. Amant Field.

The win by ULM (17-19, 4-10 SBC) – its fourth over Louisiana (17-21, 8-6 SBC) in the last 43 games dating back to 2013 – snapped an eight-game overall losing streak in the series and was the Warhawks’ first on its home field since a 6-3 victory on May 16, 2019.

The rubber game of the three-game series is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with fans able to listen to the game in the Lafayette area on KPEL-FM (96.5) and worldwide on the Varsity Network app.

Right-hander JR Tollett (3-2, 3.32 ERA) will start on the mound in Sunday’s finale for Louisiana with ULM’s starter to be determined.

ULM scored a run in three straight innings beginning in the third when Tony Lindwedel tripled off the wall in left-center field and scored on Isaac Walker’s sacrifice fly. Colby Lunsford would snap a 1-1 contest in the fourth with a solo homer off Louisiana starter Andrew Herrmann before following with a two-out RBI single to give ULM a 3-1 lead in the fifth.

Louisiana took a 1-0 lead in the second after Lee Amedee singled off ULM starter Daniel Gonzalez and scored on Jose Torres’ two-out double to right.

Gonzalez gave way to ULM reliever Aidan Haynes in the fourth inning after allowing a walk to Amedee and single to Griffin Hebert. Haynes, who pitched 4.1 innings in relief, issued a walk to Drew Markle to load the bases but got out of the jam with a line out and ground ball and beginning a stretch of 12 straight batters retired.

Amedee would help Louisiana tie the game in the eighth inning after Maddox Mandino drew a one-out walk and Caleb Stelly hit a two-out single to right. Amedee, who finished 2-for-3 at the plate, would line a 3-and-2 pitch from Haynes for an opposite-field double to drive in both Mandino and Stelly.

Garcia led off the 10^th inning with a double to left off Louisiana reliever Blake McGehee (3-4) before the Warhawks put runners on the corners when Lunsford reached on a throwing error. Pinch-hitter Jacob Billings when then intentionally walked to load the bases and Aranda would follow when his grounder to third allowed Garcia to score.

Josh Gregoire (2-1) earned the victory for the Warhawks, who induced 12 groundball outs, after pitching 2.1 innings of hitless relief with three strikeouts. Kade Dupont led ULM at the plate going 4-for-5 with a double with Lunsford going 2-for-5.

Herrmann pitched 5.1 innings in the start for Louisiana, scattering five hits and striking out three. Dylan Theut pitched a scoreless inning of relief for the Ragin’ Cajuns while McGehee pitched 3.0 innings with a strikeout.  

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