GAME 1 BOX SCORE /// GAME 2 BOX SCORE
MONTICELLO — The University of Arkansas at Monticello softball team was defeated twice on Saturday at home by No. 5 Southeastern Oklahoma State by final scores of 3-2 and 5-3 to give the Savage Storm a four-game Great American Conference series sweep.
In the first half of Saturday’s double header, the Cotton Blossoms (18-14, 5-5 GAC) took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning on an RBI groundout from senior Maggie Sands followed by an RBI single from freshman Kali Piha. Junior Channing Tharpe led off the inning with a double, which was followed by a single down the left field line from sophomore Sydney Tipton to set up UAM’s two-run rally.
However, the fifth-ranked Savage Storm (25-6, 10-2 GAC) recaptured the lead and finalized the scoring on a two-run homerun from Whitney Hamilton in the top of the sixth following a one-out walk from Courtney Moore. Southeastern opened the scoring in the top of the third on an RBI single from Darrian Williams.
Senior Randa Perry (7-9) took the loss after allowing three runs off six hits with two strikeouts and just one walk in a complete-game effort. Mindy McElroy (10-2) earned the win for SE after allowing two runs off six hits with four strikeouts and one walk in the first five innings. SE’s Jacee Bennett recorded a two-inning save, her sixth of the season, after holding UAM scoreless on just two hits with three strikeouts in the sixth and seventh innings.
In game two, each team plated a run in the first inning due to fielding errors. The Savage Storm took a 5-1 lead in the third with four runs off four hits and two walks.
UAM chipped away at the lead with one run in each of the fifth and sixth innings off the bat of junior Summer Huddleston. The Quitman, Texas native led off the fifth with a solo homerun and picked up an RBI bases-loaded single in the sixth. However, UAM left the bases loaded following consecutive foul outs to the Southeastern first baseman.
UAM left 11 runners on base in the second game after leaving 10 on base in the first game.
Sophomore Katie Slaughter (9-4) was credited with the loss in the second game after allowing five runs (four earned) off six hits with no strikeouts and two walks in the first 2.1 innings. Junior Courtney Wilson provided 4.2 quality innings of relief, keeping SE scoreless on just three hits with two strikeouts and one walk.
Jacee Bennett, who earned the save in the first game, picked up the win in game for Southeastern after allowing three runs off 13 hits with four strikeouts and no walks in a complete-game effort.
The Cotton Blossoms return to action next weekend at home for a four-game GAC series against Ouachita Baptist. The first double-header is scheduled for Saturday, March 23 starting at 1 p.m. at Blossoms Field.
