BENTONVILLE, Arkansas — The University of Arkansas at Monticello softball team split day two at the NCAA DII Challenge with a victory over Pittsburg State (7-0), and a loss against #22 Missouri-St. Louis (12-9).

In the first game for the UAM (2-2) against Pittsburg State (6-3), the Gorillas could not find an answer for Kendra Coleman in the circle as the senior limited PSU to only three hits in the match-up and recorded eight total strikeouts. 

Arkansas-Monticello picked up a run in the bottom of the first after a Korie Parker single to right field. Meagan Duchesne added another run in the fourth with a triple to right, which scored Parker to give UAM the 2-0 lead. 

The Blossoms added three more runs in the fifth inning after a sacrifice fly by Coleman scored Jordan Herbner, and McKenzie Rice who crossed the plate on a throwing error on the same play. Parker doubled to center field to bring home pinch runner Jordan Kane to give UAM the 5-0 lead. Maranda Clendenin helped seal the game with a double to center field in the bottom of the sixth inning to bring in Rice and Herbner to put the score at 7-0 in favor of Arkansas-Monticello.

The second contest of the day for the Blossoms against #22 Missouri-St. Louis (6-4) featured a back-and-forth battle between the two programs. UMSL start the game off leading 4-0, but the Blossoms were able to cut into the deficit after a defensive error by the Tritons to put the score at 4-1. 

Coleman continued to chip away at the Missouri-St. Louis lead with a solo home-run to left field, and Parker added a single up the middle later in the inning to bring home Kaylee Freeman to make the score 5-3. UAM found itself down 7-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning, but Duchesne with the bases loaded hit a grand slam home-run over the center field fence to even the game up at 7-7.

UMSL unfortunately continued to find ways to put runs on the board, outscoring Arkansas-Monticello 5-2 down the stretch in this match-up to take the game 12-9 in the end. 

The Blossoms will return to the field next on, Friday, February 17, as UAM faces Concordia University, St. Paul and Rogers State in day one of the UAM 8-State Classic in Bentonville, Arkansas.