MONTICELLO, Ark. — The University of Arkansas at Monticello softball team is set to open play in the 2008 Gulf South Conference Championship Tournament on Friday, May 2 against nationally ranked No. 2 Alabama-Huntsville.
 
For the third straight year, the tournament is being played at the Greenbrook Softball Complex in Southaven, Miss. featuring the top four teams from each GSC division in a double-elimination style bracket.
 
UAM (22-29, 15-14 GSC), which finished the season in fourth place in the division, is matched up against the No. 1 seed from the east division, Alabama-Huntsville (45-7, 16-5 GSC), which has defeated the Blossoms twice this season.
 
Historically, the Blossoms have had difficulties with the Lady Chargers, as the two teams have met 19 times over the past 11 years, with UAH holding a 17-2 series advantage.
 
This season, UAM hosted the Lady Chargers for the first time in the series history, resulting in a UAH victory in the first ever Super 8 Softball Classic.
 
The two teams met again on the last day of the GSC Crossover Tournament resulting in another victory for the Lady Chargers.
 
“We’ve gone in as the No. 1, and we’ve gone in as the No. 4 before,” said head coach and athletic director Alvy Early. “It really doesn’t make much difference as to what seed you are, because there is not, and has never been, an easy win in this tournament.”
 
Highlighting the UAM offense is junior Lindsey Randall (Keithville, La.), who brings a team-best .365 batting average into the GSC tournament. Randall has hit 10 doubles, four home runs, and collected 29 RBI this season. The transfer from Bossier Parrish Community College has started in all 51 games, mostly at short stop, finishing the regular season with a .900 fielding percentage.
 
From the mound, senior Kate Brady (Longview, Texas) has come on strong as of late, finishing the regular season with a 13-10 record and a 3.20 earned run average. Brady picked up all four wins over the past week, including three complete game shutouts. Brady enters the tournament after being named the GSC West Pitcher of the Week.
 
In the preseason GSC release, the Blossoms were picked to win the GSC West Division for the seventh time in the 13-year history of the program.
 
Unfortunately, the team did not win the division, but for the 11th time in school history, still qualified for post-season action. UAM certainly has to win the tournament to receive a bid to play in the NCAA South Region Tournament.
 
“Even though we didn’t achieve what we could have this season, we are still the type of team that could do well in the tournament,” said Early. “We have the talent and the potential to win the whole thing, but it’s a matter of whether or not we show up to play the way we should.”
 
Regardless of the result of the first round, UAM’s next opponent is either Henderson State or West Florida. UAM split a four-game series with HSU in the regular season and was defeated by UWF 1-0 in the GSC Crossover in the only meeting of the season. If UAM wins in the first round, the team plays again on Friday at 7:30 p.m. A loss puts the Blossoms in the loser’s bracket game on Saturday at 9:30 a.m.
 
The GSC has partnered with Penn Atlantic to broadcast each contest via broadband. To watch the Blossoms in action, log on to www.gulfsouthconference.org for further instructions.
 
Each UAM game will also be broadcast on the radio with Jimmy Sledge and UAM Sports Information Director Brian Ramsey bringing you the action 15 minutes prior to the first pitch. The broadcast can be heard at KHBM-FM 93.7 or online at uamsports.com.
 
The Blossoms play the Lady Chargers Friday, May 2 at noon. For a complete bracket and the tournament home page, visit www.gulfsouthconference.org.
 

2008 GSC Tournament Bracket (PDF)

Photo Caption: The 2008 Cotton Blossoms