MonticelloLive

The University of Arkansas at Monticello Cotton Blossoms (13-8) split a doubleheader with the University of West Georgia Wolves on Sunday at Blossoms Field, taking the opening contest 8-0 and falling 7-3 in the finale.

The Blossoms opened scoring in the first inning as Jenny Dunn (Jr., Adelaide, Australia) hit an RBI single to center, putting UAM ahead 1-0. The Blossoms extended their lead in the fourth inning as Dunn added an RBI double, and Kayla Temple (Fr., West Monroe, La.) added an RBI single to push the UAM lead to 3-0.

The Blossoms tacked on more runs in the fifth inning, as Sarah Reed (Sr., McKinney, Texas) hit a two-run double to push the UAM lead to 5-0; and then Becca Tipton (Fr., Dermott, Ark.) smashed a two-run homer to extend the UAM lead to 7-0. Tipton’s homer, her tenth of the season, broke the UAM freshman record for home runs, previously held by Julie Bowen; who hit nine in 1999.

Meredith Heckel (Jr., Hot Springs, Ark.) led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a home run to invoke the eight-run mercy rule and end the game with an 8-0 UAM win.

Leah Vaughn (Jr., Crestview, Fla.) picked up the win for UAM after tossing a three-hit shutout, fanning six and walking one. Heckel and Tipton both picked up two hits in the win, while Dunn went 3-for-3 in the winning effort.

The second game was a different story for UAM, as UWG’s Jessie Wise led off the top of the second inning with a homer to put UWG on the board; and the Wolves tacked on three more runs in the top of the third to push their lead to 4-0.

UAM got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Dunn hit her seventh homer of the season to pull UAM to within 4-1; but the Wolves responded one inning later with a solo shot by Mary Carlisle to push their lead back to 5-1.

UWG tacked on two more runs in the top of the sixth to extend their lead to 7-1, and while the Blossoms threatened in the seventh inning, scoring two runs, the six-run deficit was too much to overcome and the Wolves held on for the win.

Kate Brady (Jr., Longview, Texas) suffered the loss for UAM, allowing five runs, three earned, in five innings.

The Blossoms will return to action on Tuesday, March 6, as they travel to Cleveland, Mississippi for a conference doubleheader with Delta State University. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.

The Boll Weevils (2-15) were held to two hits as they dropped a 14-2 decision to the Southern Arkansas University Muleriders on Saturday at Rider Field.

The Muleriders jumped ahead early, scoring single runs in the first and second innings before pushing ahead 5-0 with a three-run third inning. The Boll Weevils got on the board in the top of the fourth, as Gus Villegas (Jr., Cangues, P.R.) drew a leadoff walk and Haley Hougen (Sr., Wylie, Texas) hit a two-run homer to pull the Weevils to within 5-2.

However, that was the last of the highlights for the Weevils, as SAU responded with a three-run fourth inning and a six-run fifth inning.

Colter Zoch (Jr., La Grange, Texas) suffered the loss after allowing nine runs, seven earned on seven hits with five walks in four innings.

The Weevils will return to action on Wednesday, March 7, as they travel to Poteau, Oklahoma to face Central Oklahoma in a single nine-inning game. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.