MonticelloLive

Kate Brady (Jr., Longview, Texas) blasted a pair of home runs to pace the University of Arkansas at Monticello Cotton Blossoms (35-16, 11-8 GSC) to a split at the Gulf South Conference Crossover and push the Blossoms back into first place, as UAM fell 10-3 to West Florida before picking up a 5-3 victory over GSC-East leader and fifth-ranked Valdosta State on Friday at Wilson-Morgan Park. Brady’s two home runs gave the Cotton Blossoms 78 home runs this season, tying the single-season home runs mark set by Delta State in the 2006 season.

In the opener against West Florida, Brady hit her first home run of the day to give UAM an early 2-0 lead after the top of the first inning. However, West Florida quickly tied the contest after an RBI grounder by Nicki VanCamp and a sacrifice fly by Valerie Staub in the bottom of the first.

The two teams traded scoreless innings until West Florida took advantage of two UAM errors to score six runs in the fourth inning to pull ahead 8-2.

UAM pulled to within 8-3 in the sixth after an RBI grounder by Becca Tipton (Fr., Dermott, Ark.) but West Florida added a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to extend their lead to 10-3, and the Blossoms went quietly in the seventh to seal the UWF win.

Sarah Reed (Sr., McKinney, Texas) picked up two of UAM’s five hits in the loss. Alison North (Fr., Marion, La.) picked up the loss after allowing eight runs, one earned, on seven hits in four innings.

The finale saw Brady once again give UAM a 2-0 lead after the top of the first inning with her second home run of the day. Valdosta State tied the contest in the bottom of the second inning with a pair of unearned runs, but UAM quickly reclaimed the lead in the top of the third on an RBI single by Jenny Dunn (Jr., Adelaide, Australia), pulling ahead 3-2.

UAM pushed their lead to 5-2 after an RBI double by Tipton and an RBI single by Lauren Brooks (Jr., West Monroe, La.) in the sixth inning. The Blazers were able to narrow the deficit to 5-3 after scoring an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth, but the Blossoms were able to retire the Blazers in order in the bottom of the seventh to seal the victory.

Dunn and Brady both picked up two hits, while Brady picked up the complete game victory to improve to 15-8 on the season after scattering four hits over seven innings, walking three and fanning six.

Saturday’s crossover games have been rained out, giving the Blossoms a day of rest before they return to action on Sunday, April 15, to face Alabama-Huntsville and North Alabama on the final day of the crossover tournament.