MonticelloLive

The University of Arkansas at Monticello Cotton Blossoms (34-14, 10-6 GSC) moved into first place in the Gulf South Conference-West Division after splitting a doubleheader with the Henderson State Lady Reddies, winning the opener 8-0 and falling 9-3 in the day’s finale.

The Blossoms opened scoring in the first game with a four-run first inning, started off with a leadoff homer by Meredith Heckel (Jr., Hot Springs, Ark.). Jenny Dunn (Jr., Adelaide, Australia) swatted a two-run double and Lauren Brooks (Jr., West Monroe, La.) added an RBI single to give UAM a 4-0 lead after one inning.

Neither team scored again until the bottom of the fifth, when after Dunn led off the inning with a triple, Gemma Gibson (Jr., Dodd City, Texas) smacked an RBI double to give UAM a 5-0 lead. Gibson later scored on a fielder’s choice to set the Blossoms’ lead at 6-0, and UAM invoked the eight-run rule as two more runs scored on an error, ending the game at 8-0 in favor of UAM.

Kate Brady (Jr., Longview, Texas) picked up the win for UAM after allowing just two hits over four innings, fanning two. K.K. Calloway (Jr., West Monroe, La.) tossed a perfect inning of relief.

Sarah Reed (Sr., McKinney, Texas) was 3-for-3 in the win, while Gibson, Dunn, and Brooks all added two hits.

The nightcap was not as kind to the Cotton Blossoms, as HSU jumped to a 2-0 lead after the top of the third inning. However, Reed blasted a two-run homer to tie the game at two in the bottom of the third.

HSU responded with two runs in the fourth, three runs in the fifth, and two runs in the sixth to extend their lead to 9-2. UAM narrowed the gap to 9-3 in the bottom of the seventh after an RBI double by Brady, but the Blossoms could get no closer as HSU picked up the victory.

Heckel was 3-for-3 in the loss. Dunn added two hits. Alison North (Fr., Marion, La.) suffered the loss after tossing 3 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and fanning one. Kim Gibson (Fr., Dodd City, Texas) tossed one scoreless inning of relief for UAM.

The Blossoms will look to rebound starting on Thursday, April 12, as they travel to Decatur, Alabama for the Gulf South Conference Crossover. The opening game for the Blossoms will be against West Alabama at 6 p.m. Thursday.