MONTICELLO, Ark. - The University of Arkansas at Monticello softball team avoided a series sweep against Arkansas Tech by earning a split in a doubleheader Saturday. The Blossoms erupted on offense in game one of the day to win 9-1 and came up just short in a late-inning rally dropping game two 8-7 at Alvy Early Softball Field.
UAM is now 5-7 overall and 5-6 against Great American Conference competition. ATU now sits at 7-5 on the season and 5-3 in league play.
GAME ONE: UAM 9, ATU 1
The scoring came early and often for UAM in the first game of the day. Katelynn Stamper opened game one of the doubleheader with a leadoff home run to left to put the Blossoms on the board.
UAM stayed on the attack in the second adding four runs on four hits. Haley Godeaux smashed a solo shot to left to get the offense rolling in the frame. Two hitters later Stamper picked up an RBI on a single up the middle. Bailey Camp followed with an RBI-double to left and the final run of the frame came in to score as Stamper crossed the plate thanks an error by the Golden Suns.
The Blossoms tacked on another run in the third on an RBI-double off the bat of Sierra Gasca to put UAM up 6-0.
In the top of the fifth, the Blossoms effectively put the game out of reach plating three more runs on three hits. Godeaux picked up an RBI on an infield single and came around to score on a dropped fly ball off the bat of Madison Gardiner. Stamper drove home the final run of the contest for the Blossoms with an RBI-single through the left side putting UAM up 9-0.
ATU managed to scratch one run across in the bottom of the fifth, but Alexis Pevehouse left two stranded to close out the 9-1 win for UAM.
Sam Stephens (W, 1-0) got the start and earned the win for the Blossoms on the bump and kept the ATU offense in check allowing just one run in four innings of work. Pevehouse closed the game out allowing two hits in her only inning on the mound.
Shannon Lasey (L, 2-1) took the loss allowing five runs on four hits in only 1.1 innings on the rubber.
GAME TWO: ATU 8, UAM 7
The game script flipped early on in game two as UAM starter Jamie Franks quickly had trouble putting the ATU hitters away. The Golden Suns struck for a pair in the first inning on a two-run home run and three more in the second.
The Blossoms responded in the third with an RBI-single by Grace Neal and a steal of home plate by Camp to cut the deficit to 5-2.
UAM added two more in the top half of the fourth thanks to a pair of costly errors by ATU. However, the Golden Suns would push their lead back to three on a two-run double in the bottom of the frame.
ATU tacked on one more in the fifth to push its lead to 8-4.
Stamper got the Blossoms back to a three-run deficit with an RBI-single in thee top of the sixth.
UAM began to mount a rally in the final inning as Caroline Tedder singled to start the frame and Neal followed sending a two-run shot over the wall in left center to put the Blossoms down one. Unfortunately, that is where the comeback would end for the Blossom as the next three hitters were retired landing UAM the 8-7 loss.
Franks (L, 2-3) took the loss giving up five runs, three earned, on four hits in two innings pitched. Pevehouse dealt four innings in relief giving up three runs, only one earned, on two hits.
Maddy Prough (W, 1-2) earned the win allowing four runs on six hits in four innings on the mound. Robyn Bales (S, 1) picked up the save dealing the final three innings surrendering three runs on five hits.
UP NEXT
UAM continues GAC play traveling to Southeastern Oklahoma State Friday and Saturday, March 19-20. First pitch for the game Friday is set for 3 p.m.
