HUNTSVILLE, Ala.  – The 23rd-ranked University of Arkansas at Monticello softball team pulled off an upset of 9th-ranked Rollins College with a 4-0 shutout victory on Friday in the first round of the NCAA Division II South Region Tournament.

The Cotton Blossoms (51-10) advance to face the winner of the first round game between Alabama-Huntsville and Nova Southeastern at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. Rollins (44-5) will face the loser of that game at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Sophomore Kayla Jackson had a productive game both in the circle and at the plate. The Hallsville, Texas native smashed a two-run homerun in the top of the fourth inning to break a scoreless tie. She also improved to 28-5 overall this season in the circle, along with recording her 30^th complete-game and 12^th shutout, after allowing only two hits with four strikeouts and one walk in seven innings. She only allowed three Rollins batters to reach base, none of them advancing into scoring position.

UAM added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh frame, started with a rare stolen base by sophomore Jennifer Hickman, who took home after senior Emilie Hobbs drew a walk and purposely induced herself into a rundown to draw the defense’s attention away from Hickman at third base. Senior Becca Tipton added an RBI single later in the inning to score Hobbs from second.

Sophomore Katie Bowman led the team in hits after going 2-for-4 at the plate with two singles up the middle.

Rollins’ Kirsten Frame (30-3) struck out eight UAM batters and allowed only one walk, but was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs (all earned) off eight hits in seven innings.