MonticelloLive

The University of Arkansas at Monticello Cotton Blossoms (46-19) took advantage of seven Albany State errors to pick up a 9-7 victory over the Golden Rams in an elimination contest in the NCAA South Region softball tournament.

After Albany State took a 1-0 lead early, UAM’s first eight batters reached base, the first three reaching on errors, in the first inning as the Blossoms claimed a 5-1 lead. UAM extended their lead to 6-1 one inning later on an error.

The Golden Rams scored a single run in the fourth to pull to within 6-2, and then pulled to within 6-4 with a two-run fifth inning.

The Blossoms picked up three runs in the bottom of the fifth after an RBI single by Meredith Heckel (Jr., Hot Springs, Ark.), another ASU error, and an RBI grounder by Jenny Dunn (Jr., Adelaide, Australia).

Albany State was able to narrow the gap to 9-7 with a three-run seventh inning.

Alison North (Fr., Marion, La.) picked up the win after scattering 14 hits over seven innings, allowing seven runs, all earned and fanning six.

The Cotton Blossoms will return to action in an elimination game against Rollins College at 10 a.m. Saturday. The winner will play again at 6:30 p.m.