MONTICELLO – The University of Arkansas at Monticello softball team shutout the Christian Brothers Lady Buccaneers twice on Friday with final scores of 10-0 and 1-0 to record a four-game sweep.
 
With Friday’s wins, the Cotton Blossoms improve to 37-6 overall and 14-2 in the Gulf South Conference-West Division, giving the team a five-game lead in the division standings.
 
In the first game, UAM came out on fire after honoring its four seniors prior to the first pitch. The Cotton Blossoms scored all 10 of their runs in the bottom of the first inning off 10 hits and three CBU (14-20, 4-12 GSC-West) errors. Six of UAM’s nine batters hit twice in the inning, including three batters who went 2-for-2 in the frame.
 
Sophomore Kayla Jackson, senior Becca Tipton and junior Sarah Hayslip all had two hits in the inning.
 
Jackson led the team in hits after going a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate and scored two runs, while Tipton went 2-for-2 with a team-high three RBI. Hayslip finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and one run scored.
 
Jackson (19-3) continued her dominance in the circle, picking up her second consecutive complete game shutout against the Lady Bucs. In her five innings of work, she allowed only two hits and struck out four batters with no walks allowed. The Hallsville, Texas native retired the last nine batters of the game consecutively and did not allow CBU to reach scoring position.
 
The second game turned out to be a pitching dual with both teams only collecting three hits throughout seven innings to force an extra frame.
 
After UAM held CBU scoreless in the top of the eighth, Jackson led off the bottom of the frame with a single through the right side of the infield, which was followed by a single to center from Tipton and a walk by Lund to load the bases for junior Kendra White, who smashed the game-winning hit to center field on the first pitch she saw.
 
Tipton led the team in hits after going 2-for-3 at the plate.
 
Sophomore Randa Perry (2-2) earned the win after tossing a complete-game shutout, giving UAM three shutouts over CBU in the four-game series. In her eight innings of work, Perry allowed only four hits with six strikeouts and only walk.
 
Senior’s Bethany Falcon, Emilie Hobbs, Kayla Temple and Becca Tipton were honored before the first pitch of the first game as a part of “Senior Day.” The four seniors played the final home games of their careers at Blossoms Field on Friday.
 
The Cotton Blossoms travel to Decatur, Ala. next week to participate in the GSC Crossover Tournament, featuring six conference games in four days, all against GSC-East opponents. UAM’s first game in the event is Thursday, April 8 against West Georgia at 4 p.m.