MonticelloLive

The University of Arkansas at Monticello softball team split a Gulf South Conference double header with the Golden Suns of Arkansas Tech by losing the first game 5-2 and posting a 3-2 victory in the second game.

Junior Lindsay Randall (Keithville, La.) was the hero of the day when she hit a walk-off RBI-double in the bottom of the seventh inning that scored senior Meredith Heckel (Hot Springs, Ark.), who kept the inning alive by reaching on an error from Tech’s third baseman Quinn Culver.
 
The Blossoms were trailing 2-0 going into the bottom of the seventh, but scored two runs when Heckel reached on the error. Junior Heather Greer (Hollandale, Miss.) scored on the play after walking and moving to second on single by senior Lauren Brooks (West Monroe, La.). Brooks also scored on the error.
 
Senior starting pitcher Kate Brady (Longview, Texas) recorded the win, moving to 9-9 after throwing a complete game, allowing only two runs off seven hits.
 
Randall had quite a day, leading the Blossoms from the plate in both games. In the first game, Randall went 2 for 2 with two runs scored and one RBI. In the second game, she went 2 for 4 with the game-winning RBI.
 
Tech starting pitcher Dana Aldrich gave the Blossoms trouble in the first game, striking out 11 of the 27 batters she faced, while only allowing two runs off four hits.
 
The first of those runs came in the bottom of the first inning, when Randall began her productive day with a solo-blast over the left field fence. The home run marks Randall’s third of the season.
 
The other run came in the bottom of the sixth when senior Jenny Dunn (Adelaide, Australia) hit an RBI-single down the left field line that scored Randall.
 
Junior Becca Sustaire (Hallsville, Texas) dropped to 9-13 on the season after allowing five runs off 12 hits in her complete-game loss. Sustaire only walked one of the 33 batters she faced.
 
With the split, UAM moves to 18-25 overall and 11-10 in the GSC, while Tech moves to 34-13 overall and 16-7 in the GSC. UAM still holds onto fourth place in the GSC West, while Tech awaits the results from today’s double header with Delta State and Ouachita Baptist to determine its standing. Tech was first in the division coming into today’s games.
 
UAM and Tech will meet again on Saturday, Apr. 19 in Russellville for a GSC double header starting at 1 p.m. at the Chartwells Women’s Sports Complex.