ARKADELPHIA, Arkansas — Senior Holly Wilmarth combined to hit three homeruns to lead the University of Arkansas at Monticello softball team in a pair of opening-day losses at the Ronnie Hawkins Invitational on Saturday.

The Blossoms started the day with a 7-4 loss to Mississippi College in the morning before falling to Northeastern State 2-1 in the afternoon.

Wilmarth went 2-for-4 with two homeruns against Mississippi College, and hit a solo shot for UAM's only run in the loss to Northeastern State. She opened the scoring with a two-run shot in the bottom of the first against MC.
 
The Lady Choctaws responded with five runs in the top of the second to take the lead, highlighted by a grand slam homerun by Madison Oliver.
 
Wilmarth and junior Katie Koen were responsible for UAM's next two runs with solo homeruns in the third and fourth innings, respectively, to pull UAM to within one run. MC plated one run in the fifth on a bases-loaded hit by pitch, and added an insurance run in the seventh on a solo homerun by Tylan Buckley.

In the afternoon game, Wilmarth again opened the scoring with a solo homerun in the bottom of the first to account for one of UAM's four hits in the loss.

Northeastern State pitcher Taryn Gray retired UAM in order in three of the final six innings and allowed the Blossoms to reach scoring position only twice. UAM senior starter Elizabeth Delafield retired the first seven NSU batters consecutively before giving up a one-out walk in the third inning.  

The RiverHawks plated one run in the third and took advantage of three walks in the sixth for to go-ahead run.

The Blossoms return to action in the Ronnie Hawkins Invitational on Sunday, facing off against Missouri Western at 9 a.m. and Northeastern State at 11 a.m.