Hawks Stun Nationally Ranked Hogs
LaMar Gafford
Issue date: 4/27/09 Section: Sports
For one night, the University of Louisiana at Monroe, as a whole, got exact revenge against the University of Arkansas for a loss that happened in a different sport seven months ago.
ULM's baseball team (25-17, 12-11 Sun Belt) went to Fayetteville, Ark., on April 14 and played virtually flawless baseball and beat the Arkansas Razorbacks, 3-2, in front of a hostile environment of 7,568 people.
"This is a big victory for the university and our baseball program," said Warhawk head baseball coach Jeff Schexnaider. "It was an [NCAA] Regional-type atmosphere at the stadium tonight."
Kyle Christensen pitched a gem for the ages, as he went for a complete game, while striking out four batters, walking two, allowing eight hits and surrendering two earned runs in the process.
Christensen's complete game, at the time, was part of a string of three straight occasions that a ULM starting pitcher lasted the whole game in a mid-week start.
"Kyle is a fifth-year senior and we knew that he could handle that type of situation," Schexnaider said of his star pitcher.
What worked for Christensen was the support that his offense and his defense gave him throughout the game.
In the top of the second inning, with runners on the corners, designated hitter Jordy Poche grounded into a double play, but not before first baseman Matt Collins scored from third to give the Warhawks the opening lead of 1-0.
However, the Razorbacks answered back immediately in the bottom half of the stanza, thanks to a two-run homerun by second baseman Bo Bigham to give Arkansas a 2-1 advantage.
After that, however, Christensen would settle down and not allow a run for the final seven innings allowing players like Perry Smith, who tied up the game at two runs apiece with a solo homerun, his third homerun of the season, in the top of the third, to get a chance to play in a close, tight game.
After ULM started the fourth inning promising with a hit and a walk, a pitching change would silence the Warhawks' bats the rest of the way, as for the final six innings Arkansas would only allow another walk and one more hit in the tight game.
ULM's baseball team (25-17, 12-11 Sun Belt) went to Fayetteville, Ark., on April 14 and played virtually flawless baseball and beat the Arkansas Razorbacks, 3-2, in front of a hostile environment of 7,568 people.
"This is a big victory for the university and our baseball program," said Warhawk head baseball coach Jeff Schexnaider. "It was an [NCAA] Regional-type atmosphere at the stadium tonight."
Kyle Christensen pitched a gem for the ages, as he went for a complete game, while striking out four batters, walking two, allowing eight hits and surrendering two earned runs in the process.
Christensen's complete game, at the time, was part of a string of three straight occasions that a ULM starting pitcher lasted the whole game in a mid-week start.
"Kyle is a fifth-year senior and we knew that he could handle that type of situation," Schexnaider said of his star pitcher.
What worked for Christensen was the support that his offense and his defense gave him throughout the game.
In the top of the second inning, with runners on the corners, designated hitter Jordy Poche grounded into a double play, but not before first baseman Matt Collins scored from third to give the Warhawks the opening lead of 1-0.
However, the Razorbacks answered back immediately in the bottom half of the stanza, thanks to a two-run homerun by second baseman Bo Bigham to give Arkansas a 2-1 advantage.
After that, however, Christensen would settle down and not allow a run for the final seven innings allowing players like Perry Smith, who tied up the game at two runs apiece with a solo homerun, his third homerun of the season, in the top of the third, to get a chance to play in a close, tight game.
After ULM started the fourth inning promising with a hit and a walk, a pitching change would silence the Warhawks' bats the rest of the way, as for the final six innings Arkansas would only allow another walk and one more hit in the tight game.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
gigi gafford
posted 4/30/09 @ 6:00 PM CST
Great story, the article was well written!
coolio
posted 7/21/09 @ 12:27 AM CST
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Anonymous
posted 7/21/09 @ 12:30 AM CST
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