Jackson Tosses No-Hitter; Blossoms Advance to Super-Regionals
May 19th, 2010 by
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Behind sophomore pitcher Kayla Jackson’s two wins in the circle, including her third no-hitter of the season, the 23rd-ranked University of Arkansas at Monticello softball team beat the 12th-ranked Alabama-Huntsville Chargers twice on Monday to advance to this weekend’s NCAA South Super-Region Tournament against host Valdosta State.
The Cotton Blossoms (54-11) won the first game 6-3, followed by Jackson’s no-hitter in a 1-0 win in the second game. In the 6-3 win, the Chargers (41-12) plated three runs in the bottom of the first, but Jackson retired 20 of the final 21 batters in the game, while her teammates plated six runs in the top of the third inning.
In the six-run third inning, senior Becca Tipton started the rally with an RBI single, followed later by an RBI single by junior Sarah Hayslip and an RBI bases loaded walk by sophomore Jennifer Hickman. Lund followed Hickman with an RBI walk of her own, while junior Kendra White followed with an RBI fielder’s choice. Jackson moved to 29-5 with the win after allowing three runs (one earned) on three hits with six strikeouts and no walks.
After a 30-minute break in between games, UAM Head Coach Alvy Early gave Jackson the starting nod once again, and Jackson paid off the decision with her third no-hitter of the season. It was only the third no-hitter ever thrown against the Chargers and first since the 2000 NCAA South Region in Huntsville, Ala.
The Hallsville, Texas native went seven innings and only allowed one walk with two strikeouts to improve her overall record to 30-5. UAM plated its only run in the second inning on an RBI groundout by White, scoring Hickman, who doubled and moved to third on a single by Lund.
The Cotton Blossoms are now set to travel to Valdosta, Ga. to take on Valdosta State in the NCAA South Super-Regional in a best of three series, beginning this Friday, May 21 at 5 p.m. central time.
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