MonticelloLive

Despite connecting for ten hits against one of the most dominant pitchers in the South Region, the University of Arkansas at Monticello Cotton Blossoms (45-19) dropped a 4-2 decision to the #20 Florida Southern Moccasins on Thursday in the opening round of the NCAA South Region Tournament in Valdosta.

The Cotton Blossoms jumped on the board in the first inning as Gemma Gibson (Jr., Dodd City, Texas) smashed a two-run single to give UAM a 2-0 lead. However, Florida Southern pulled to within 2-1 after tallying a single run in the bottom of the inning.

FSC tied the contest on an RBI triple by Michelle Tatlock in the fourth, and took the lead later that inning as Ashley Alpizar added an RBI single.

The Moccasins added another run on an RBI grounder in the sixth to push ahead 4-2.

UAM stranded eleven baserunners after loading the bases three times, scoring just the two runs off FSC’s Megan Brown, who fanned nine Blossoms in seven innings. Kate Brady (Jr., Longview, Texas) suffered the loss after giving up four runs on eleven hits in 5 1/3 innings of work.

Meredith Heckel (Jr., Hot Springs, Ark.) and Gibson both had three hits in the loss, while Kayla Temple (Fr., Downsville, La.) had two hits for UAM.

The Cotton Blossoms will return to action on Friday at 12:30, facing Albany State University in an elimination game.