MonticelloLive

The University of Arkansas at Monticello Cotton Blossoms (25-10) combined to hit twelve home runs and used a second-game no-hitter by Leah Vaughn (Jr., Crestview, Fla.) to cruise to a second-day sweep at the Delta State University Classic, as UAM topped Benedict 10-0 in the opener before crushing Stillman 20-0 in the day’s finale.

The Blossoms opened scoring in their opening game as Sarah Reed (Sr., McKinney, Texas) smashed a solo homer to right to give UAM an early 1-0 lead. The Blossoms pushed their lead to 2-0 as Kate Brady (Jr., Longview, Texas) scored on an error later in the inning.

Meredith Heckel (Jr., Hot Springs, Ark.) smashed a two-out homer in the third inning to extend the UAM lead to 3-0, before the Blossoms exploded for seven runs in the third inning, featuring a two-run double by Gemma Gibson (Jr., Dodd City, Texas), a two-run homer by Joleah Oxner (Sr., Monticello, Ark.), and solo homers by Terri Rodgers (Sr., Enterprise, Ala.) and Heckel as the Blossoms pushed their lead to 10-0.

It was all the offense that Alison North (Fr., Marion, La.) would need as the freshman improved to 9-4 on the season after tossing a four-hit shutout, fanning four. The shutout is North’s second consecutive, fifth on the season; and fourth in her last five starts.

Every Cotton Blossoms starter picked up a hit, with Heckel, Reed, and Brady all picking up two hits.

In the finale against Stillman, the Cotton Blossoms jumped out to a 3-0 lead as Jenny Dunn (Jr., Adelaide, Australia) cracked a three-run homer. The Blossoms made it back-to-back homers as Brady smashed a solo homer down the left field line, extending the UAM lead to 4-0. UAM tacked on two more runs in the second inning as Gibson hit a solo homer to lead off the inning, and then Dunn hit her second homer of the game to push the UAM lead to 6-0.

The Blossoms exploded in the third for eleven runs on ten hits, featuring a two-run triple by Gibson, an RBI double by Brady, an RBI double by Becca Tipton (Fr., Dermott, Ark.), a two-run homer by Lauren Brooks (Jr., West Monroe, La.), another RBI single by Gibson, and a three-run homer by Rodgers as the Blossoms extended their lead to 17-0 after the third inning.

The Blossoms would get back on the board in the top of the fifth inning as Brady smashed a three-run homer, her second of the game to push the Blossoms’ lead to the final margin.

Vaughn fanned seven en route to the no-hitter. The no-hitter was the first of her career, and the first UAM no-hitter since April 5, 2005, when Ashley Burkett and Lindsay Rymes combined on a perfect game against Central Baptist.

Brady picked up four hits in the victory. Tipton and Gibson both added three, while Oxner, Rodgers, and Dunn both had two hits in the winning effort.

UAM returns to action on Tuesday, March 20, as they host Delta State University in a Gulf South Conference doubleheader at Blossoms Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.