WEATHERFORD, Oklahoma — The University of Arkansas at Monticello softball team opened its four-game Great American Conference road series against Southwestern Oklahoma State with a split on Sunday, winning the first game 3-1 in eight innings and losing the second game 4-3.

In the first game, junior Kendra Coleman (7-5) earned the victory in more than one way, tossing a complete-game, two-hitter with seven strikeouts and only two walks, and also providing the go-ahead two-run double in the top of the eighth inning that held on to be the final runs of the game.

Coleman allowed only one run in the win, and it was unearned due to a fielding error.

After SWOSU (5-19, 3-11 GAC) scored first with an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning, the Blossoms (16-8, 11-3 GAC) got on the board in the top of the second inning when sophomore catcher Ashton Currey led off the frame with a homerun to left center.

UAM loaded the bases with only one out in the third inning, and had multiple runners on base again in the third, but each time was not able to push anything across.

Coleman's game-winning double in the eighth scored junior McKenzie Rice and Currey, who singled and walked, respectively, in the first two at bats of the inning.

In the second game, Coleman again sparked the UAM offense with an RBI single in the top of the second inning to force a one-all tie after SWOSU again took advantage of a UAM error for one run in the bottom of the first.

UAM went up 3-1 in the fourth with a solo homerun by Rice to lead off the inning and an RBI single from junior Korie Parker later in the frame.

SWOSU responded with three runs off five straight hits in the top of the fourth to finalize the scoring.

The Blossoms outhit SWOSU 12-10 in the loss. Wilmarth went 3-for-4, while Rice, freshman Kali Bolter and Rice added two hits each.

The Blossoms and Bulldogs are back in action on Monday with a double-header starting at noon in Weatherford.