JONESBORO, Ark. (3-23-2008) ? With the game tied at 3-3 heading into the ninth inning, the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks took advantage of an Arkansas State error to plate two runs and went on to defeat the Indians 6-3 Sunday afternoon at Tomlinson Stadium and Kell Field.
With the win, ULM captured the weekend series 2-1 and improved to 14-6 overall and 7-2 in Sun Belt Conference play. Arkansas State slips to 12-10 overall and 5-4 in SBC action. Arkansas State's four conference losses have been by a total of seven runs. Louisiana Monroe won the series opener 3-1 Friday night, while ASU took Saturday's game two, 15-10.
The Indians jumped on top 2-0 in the first inning of Sunday's finale on a two-run home run from freshman first baseman Drew Benes. Starting pitcher Joel Boeschen kept the Warhawks off the scoreboard until the fifth when senior Dexter Fontenot singled to left field to drive in a run. Louisiana-Monroe tied the game at 2-2 later in the inning when junior Jon Prevost scored from third with Fontenot in a rundown.
Arkansas State regained the lead at 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single from junior Brandon Eller, but the lead proved to be short-lived when ULM answered with the tying run in the top of the sixth. First baseman Matt Collins reached on a fielder's choice, scoring centerfielder A.J. Siggers from third to knot the score at 3-3.
Two hit batsmen in the ninth put runners at first and second for the Warhawks, and both scored on an Indian error for the 5-3 ULM lead. An RBI single from Siggers later in the inning drove in the Warhawks' remaining run and set the final at 6-3.
Junior catcher Lawson Hipps led ASU at the plate, going 3-for-4 on the day. Hipps also led the Indians on the weekend with a 7-for-10 effort.
Senior Josh Lett (4-1) picked up the win on the mound for the Warhawks, giving up three runs on 10 hits in eight innings of work. Lett walked two batters and struck out seven. Boeschen worked 7.2 innings for the Tribe, giving up three runs on 10 hits, with three walks and three strikeouts. Jordan Kimball (2-1) took the loss for the Indians, pitching one-third inning while giving up two runs.
The Indians will be on the road for 15 of their next 18 games, starting with a March 25 contest at Tennessee-Martin. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m.
