UAM-UNK Box Score (HTML) | UAM-UIU Box Score (HTML)

BENTONVILLE, Arkansas – The University of Arkansas at Monticello softball team picked up its third and fourth consecutive victories on Friday with an 8-4 win over Nebraska Kearney followed by a 5-1 victory over Upper Iowa.

UAM had to fight from behind in the win over UNK, scoring eight unanswered runs after trailing 4-0 in the second inning. Senior Lacy Blanchard went 1-for-4 at the plate, but her hit was a big one, clearing the bases in a three-run double in the bottom of the third inning to bring the Blossoms to within one run of tying the score. The next inning, sophomore McKenzie Rice hit a two-run single to center to give UAM a one-run lead.

The Blossoms cushioned that lead with another three runs in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run double from junior Holly Wilmarth and a sac fly from Rice, who finished the game with two hits and three RBI. Wilmarth and sophomore Allison Stipes also had two hits in the win.

In the second game of the day, UAM scored five runs in the first two innings and held on the four-run victory. The Blossoms strung together three straight run-producing hits in the bottom of the first inning to grab the early lead. Junior Kelli Halder and junior Katherine Batey started the rally with back-to-back doubles. Blanchard drove in Batey with a single to center in the next at bat. UAM finalized its scoring with two runs in the second inning on an RBI triple from Wilmarth followed by a sac fly from senior Sydney Tipton.

Senior Katie Slaughter (2-1) and Batey (3-1) picked up complete game wins for UAM in the pitching circle. Slaughter gave up four runs off seven hits with six strikeouts and just one walk in UAM's 8-4 win over UNK. Batey gave up just one run, which was unearned, off six hits with four strikeouts in the win over Upper Iowa.

With the wins, the Blossoms improve to 5-2 overall this season. UAM continues play in the 8-State Classic on Saturday against Fort Hays State (11 a.m.) and Pittsburg State (1 p.m.).