CONWAY, S.C. – The Coastal Carolina softball team battled, but fell 11-3 in six innings to the ULM Warhawks on Friday afternoon at St. John Stadium.
 
With the loss, CCU dropped to 15-21 overall and 1-12 in Sun Belt Conference play while ULM improved to 21-16 on the year and 7-9 in SBC play, with the victory.
 
Both the Chanticleers and Warhawks looked to strike early, as the opening frame saw a combined eight runs. 
 
ULM was first to strike, as Alexis Chavez and Korie Krepps drew back-to-back walks to put runners on first and second before Kennedy Johnson doubled to right-center field to put the visitors up 2-0. Jacelyn Buck singled to right field to advance Johnson to third base. Kelsey Giddens reached on an RBI bunt that advanced all runners and put ULM up 3-0 followed by Giddens stealing second. Madelyn Fletcher singled to deep left-center field to bring home Buck and Giddens to put the Warhawks on to 5-0. 
 
Coastal answered in the bottom of the first inning, as Makiya Thomas drew a lead-off walk before Keirstin Roose singled past the shortstop to advance Thomas to second. Riley Zana laid down a bunt to reach first and advance all runners. Iyanla De Jesus drove in three runs with a double down the right-field line to put the Chants within two and make the score 5-3. 
 
The Warhawks added one to their lead in the top of the second inning, as Chavez sent a single to right field before Krepps drew her second walk of the afternoon. Buck doubled to left field which allowed Chavez to cross home to make the score 6-3 before Krepps was out at home.
 
The two teams would go down in order in both the third and fourth innings. 
 
ULM went on to add five more runs between the final two innings to make the final score, 11-3.
 
Zana started the Chants momentum in the bottom of the fifth, as the sophomore singled followed by a De Jesus walk which advanced Zana to second. An Abbey Montoya sacrifice bunt to the pitcher put runners in scoring position but CCU would leave two runners on base to end the rally attempt.
 
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Coastal would go down in order to end the contest. 
 
Four different Chanticleers saw action in the circle, with Mady Volpe (1-3) picking up her third loss of the season after allowing two runs and two walks. Raelee Brabham, Nicolette Picone, and Maddie Redman all saw action as well with Picone throwing 3.2 innings of work. 
 
Coastal Carolina and ULM will rematch Friday, April 15 at 2 p.m. ET. 
 
For complete coverage of CCU softball, follow the Chanticleers on social media at @CoastalSoftball (Twitter), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), and facebook.com/CCUChanticleers(Facebook), or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina.