BENTONVILLE, Arkansas – The No. 7 seed University of Arkansas at Monticello softball team opened its participation in the 2015 Great American Conference Championship Tournament with a 2-1 loss to No. 2 seed East Central on Thursday at the Tiger Athletic Complex.

With the loss, the Blossoms are now set to face No. 6 seed Southern Nazarene on Thursday in an elimination game played at Bentonville's Memorial Park. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. The game can be heard on the UAM Sports Network at KHBM-FM 93.7 in Monticello and online at uamsports.com.

Links to live audio and live stats can be accessed at www.uamsports.com/coverage.aspx.

In Thursday's loss to ECU (29-13), the Blossoms 24-24 opened the scoring in the top of the first inning with an RBI double by senior Lacy Blanchard to score sophomore McKenzie Rice, who doubled down the right field line earlier in the inning.

ECU starting pitcher Marissa Shaffer (13-6) limited UAM to just one hit in the final six innings to keep the Blossoms scoreless. The Lady Tigers finalized the scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning with a pair of runs off three hits and one UAM error.

Blanchard accounted for two of UAM's three hits. She also doubled to lead off the top of the fourth inning.

Senior Katie Slaughter (15-10) limited ECU to just two runs (one earned) off six hits with three strikeouts and no walks in a complete-game effort.