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MONTICELLO – The University of Arkansas at Monticello softball team scored a combined 18 runs and totaled 27 combined hits in a double header split with Southern Arkansas at home on Tuesday, winning the first game 10-2 in five innings and dropping the second game 9-8.

UAM (20-15, 11-11 Great American Conference) scored in every inning except the third in the first game run-rule victory. The Blossoms scored one in the first, three in the second, two in the fourth and ended the game early with four runs in the bottom of the fifth. UAM had 16 hits in the first game, three each coming from senior Hannah Pendley, freshman McKenzie Rice and junior Sydney Tipton.

Sophomore Kali Piha and senior Channing Tharpe both had two hits in the win. Three Blossoms posted two runs batted in, including senior Brittany Eitel, who blasted a two-run homerun to left center in the fourth. Tharpe also homered in the win.

Junior Katie Slaughter (9-7) threw every pitch for UAM in Tuesday's split, earning the win in the first game after allowing two runs off three hits with five strikeouts before giving up nine runs off 14 hits in the second game.

SAU (18-14, 13-9 GAC) used a pair of multi-run homeruns in the top of the sixth inning of the second game to erase a four-run deficit. After UAM built a 4-0 lead after four innings, SAU reached the scoreboard in the fifth on a two-run homerun from Brooke Goad, her second round-tripper of the day. Goad led off the first game with a homerun to left center. SAU's Maddie Dow and Chelsea Ivey had three-run and two-run homeruns, respectively, to make up SAU's five-run sixth.

UAM opened the second game's scoring with two runs in the first, including a sac fly to left by Piha to drive in Pendley, who led off the inning with a single.

Sophomore Taylor Norris gave the Blossoms a 4-0 lead with a two-run single in the bottom of the fourth.

The Blossoms plated four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take an 8-7 lead, highlighted by a two-run single from freshman McKenzie Rice. Pendley and Piha also had RBI singles in the rally. SAU responded with two runs in the top of the seventh, which held on to be enough for the win as UAM was retired in order in the bottom half of the inning.

Shelby Miller (7-7) took the loss for SAU in the first game before registered her sixth save of the season in the second game. Taylor Clifton (2-1) earned the win in relief, despite allowing two runs off three hits in two thirds of an inning.

The Blossoms are back in action this weekend on the road for a four-game GAC series against East Central. The two squads are set for double-headers on Friday (2 PM) and Saturday (12 PM) in Ada, Okla.