TYLER, TEXAS – The University of Arkansas at Monticello softball team split its first two games of the 2020 season on Saturday from Tyler, Texas at the Texas A&M Commerce/UT-Tyler Invitational. After a 3-2 loss against the University of Texas at Tyler in game one, Blossoms bounced back for a 6-1 victory against Texas Woman's University in game two.
 
The Blossoms had a lead throughout most of the game in game one against the Patriots, 2-0. It was not until the bottom of the seventh that UT-Tyler hit a two-run walk-off home run to earn the win.
 
In game two, UAM got a pair of runs early and manufactured four more later, while getting some solid pitching in the circle from Raegyn Parrish and Alexis Pevehouse to get the game two win.
 
With the split, UAM improves to 1-1 on the season.
 
GAME ONE – UAM 2, UTT 3
The Patriots struck first in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI double, but UAM struck back in the top of the second.
 
With one out in the second, Haley Godeaux deposited a 2-1 pitch over the left-centerfield wall for a solo home run.
 
Scoring ceased until the top of the sixth when UAM got another run. Katelynn Stamper singled to get things going and then she stole second. Following a pair of lineouts, she advanced to third on a wild pitch, and later scored on an error to put the Blossoms ahead, 2-1.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, the Patriots put a lead runner on. One out later, Serena Saldivar hit a two-run walk-off homer for a 3-2 victory.
 
Hayley McGhee got the no-decision hurling 3.2 innings surrendering one earned run on five hits and three walks.
 
Kaylee Freeman (L, 0-1) took the loss after going 2.2 innings allowing two runs on two hits and two walks.
 
UT-Tyler's Miranda Leal (W, 3-0) got the win going 1.2 innings allowing one hit and striking out one.
 
GAME TWO – TWU 1, UAM 6
UAM scampered two runs across in the bottom of the second. After Stamper singled to lead off the inning, Kara DeBruin reached on an error and advanced to second while Stamper moved over to third. Later, Stamper scored on a wild pitch, and DeBruin came around to score soon after to put UAM ahead, 2-0.
 
The Blossoms remained ahead by two in a briskly played game thanks to some solid pitching by Parrish. UAM got another run in the fifth and later exploded for three in the bottom of the sixth after TWU got a run back.
 
Allyson Stolte first scored on a throwing error, and a little later, with a runner on, DeBruin roped a two-run homer to centerfield to make it a 6-1 UAM advantage.
 
Pevehouse then slammed the door in the top of the seventh aiding UAM to a 6-1 victory.
 
Parrish (W, 1-0) got the win going 4.1 scoreless innings allowing just three hits and striking out four.
 
Pevehouse (S, 1) got the save going 2.2 innings allowing one unearned run on one hit and one walk while punching out one.
 
TWU's Bailey Turner (L, 0-4) took the loss going 6.0 innings allowing six runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out six.
 
UP NEXT
UAM will play two more games on Saturday starting with a contest against Texas A&M International University at 2:30 p.m. They will then play No. 10 Texas A&M University Commerce at 4:45 p.m.