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BENTONVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello softball team began the 8-State Classic in Bentonville with a pair of wins on Friday, defeating William Jewell 8-0 in six innings before posting an 8-2 victory over Nebraska-Kearney in the afternoon.

The UAM offense erupted for double-digit hits in each win, tallying 11 hits against WJC and 12 hits against UNK, while starters Katie Slaughter and Courtney Wilson gave up six hits combined in both games.

In the win over William Jewell (0-2), UAM jumped out early with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning on a solo homerun by sophomore Kali Piha and later an RBI single by junior Lacy Blanchard.

After UAM took advantage of a WJC defensive error and added an unearned run in the second, the Blossoms went back to the long ball to take a 5-0 lead thanks two a two-run blast from senior Beth Johnson in the bottom of the fourth. The Blossoms collected their second run-rule victory of the season with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, highlighted by an RBI single from Piha followed by an RBI double from Johnson to cap her 3-for-4, three RBI game. Piha and senior Hannah Pendley also had three hits in the win.

Slaughter (2-1) went the distance for the Blossoms to pick up the two-hit shutout. Rachel Hayden (0-1) took the loss for WJC, giving up all eight runs off 11 hits.

Johnson wrapped up her impressive day by going 4-for-4 with two triples and three RBI to highlight UAM's second win of the day.

The Blossoms again jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the bottom of the first, highlighted by a two-run triple by Johnson, who later scored on a UNK error.

UAM surrendered its first run of the day in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly from UNK's Mallory Noakes. UAM answered in the bottom of the frame on an RBI single from senior catcher Brittany Eitel to drive in Johnson, who tripled to left center in the previous at bat.

The Lopers (1-1) scored their final run of the game in the fourth on an RBI single by Emilee Jonas before UAM capped the scoring with one run on the fifth on an RBI triple from Eitel and three runs in the sixth on a double steal and back-to-back RBI single from Piha and Johnson.

Senior Courtney Wilson (2-1) picked up the win in complete-game fashion, allowing two runs off four hits with five strikeouts and two walks. UNK starter Brittnie Kreiser (0-1) took the loss after allowing four runs off four hits in the first 2.1 innings.

The Blossoms are back in action at the 8-State Classic on Saturday against Upper Iowa at 11:30 a.m.