ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The No. 12 UAM Softball team finally got 2012 underway with a pair of games in the OBU-HSU Classic in Arkadelphia.

Game one was a pitchers’ duel between No. 23 Missouri Western’s Jackie Bishop and UAM ace Kayla Jackson. The Blossoms (1-1) managed to get three hits off the Griffon right-hander, but the sophomore held UAM scoreless. Jackson gave up only two hits, unfortunately, one was a solo shot to first baseman Taylor Anding that gave the Griffons the 1-0 win in the Blossom’s season opener.
 
Game two pitted the Blossoms against Rockhurst University. The Blossoms took out their frustrations in the opener on the Hawks, downing RU 6-2. Freshman right-hander Katie Slaughter went the full seven innings in the win, allowing just four hits and striking out 11. It was her first collegiate appearance.
 
Senior Jennifer Hickman had three hits in the win, including two RBI and a solo homerun. Maggie Sands posted two RBI on two hits, and Kayla Jackson also had two hits for UAM.
 
Full stats of both games will be posted as soon as they are made available. The Blossoms will next travel over to Durant, Oklahoma to take part in the Southeastern Oklahoma State Southeastern Shootout. They will play Angelo State at 10:00 a.m. before taking on Central Missouri in the first of six games in the classic.