DECATUR, Ala. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello softball team had split decisions on the second day of the Gulf South Conference Crossover with a 10-2 win over West Alabama and a 7-1 loss to No. 11 Alabama-Huntsville.
 
The Cotton Blossoms (39-7, 16-3 GSC) began the day by smashing West Alabama (29-17, 6-10 GSC) for 10 runs off 12 hits and two UWA errors, highlighted by a five-run sixth-inning to secure the team’s second consecutive run-rule victory in the event.
 
UAM had four run-producing at bats in the sixth, most notably a two-run homerun by junior Sarah Hayslip, her 11th round-tripper of the season and second of the tournament. Senior Becca Tipton smashed a solo-homerun in the fourth and finished 2-for-4 at the plate, while freshman Faith Lund also homered in the win with a two-run blast to center field in the third.
 
Sophomore Randa Perry finished the game a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate to lead the team in hits.
 
Sophomore Kayla Jackson (21-3) went the distance for the Cotton Blossoms, allowing two runs off three hits with eight strikeouts and no walks in six innings.
 
In the loss to Alabama-Huntsville, the Chargers (29-7, 14-1 GSC) used a pair of three-run innings and two homeruns to snap UAM’s nine-game winning streak.
 
The Cotton Blossoms started the scoring on an RBI double by Tipton in the bottom of the first inning to score Jackson, who reached on a fielding error earlier in the inning.
 
The Chargers took the lead in the top of the third on back-to-back homeruns - a two-RBI shot by Beth Lawson, followed by a solo-shot by Erin Duke. In the fourth, Sam Deep extended UAH’s lead with an RBI single. The Chargers added three more runs in the sixth off three hits and a UAM throwing error.
 
UAM had runners in scoring position in the second, fifth and sixth innings, but failed to capitalize on any of them to leave seven runners stranded in the loss.
 
Sophomore Amanda Nordberg (14-2) was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs off five hits with two strikeouts and four walks in the first four innings of the game.
 
The Cotton Blossoms continue play in the GSC Crossover on Saturday against No. 2 Valdosta State at noon.