MONTICELLO, Ark. - The bats came alive for the University of Arkansas at Monticello softball team in game two of the twin bill with East Central helping the Blossoms earn a split of the series-opening doubleheader. After falling in game one 5-1, UAM put together a 13-hit effort to get a walk off 6-5 win in extra innings in game two.
UAM moves to 6-11 overall and 6-10 in Great American Conference play. ECU ends the day 9-12 on the year and 5-10 in league games.
GAME ONE: ECU 5, UAM 1
Starter Maddie Chalenburg worked scoreless frames for the Blossoms in the first and second innings allowing just one Tiger hit before running into trouble in the third.
ECU put together five hits against Chalenburg in the third to plate three runs and take the early lead.
UAM responded in the bottom of the frame with an RBI-single off the bat of Katelynn Stamper, but that was all for the Blossoms in the inning.
The Tigers tacked on another run in the fifth to push the score to 4-1.
The Blossoms would put a runner on in the home half of the fifth and sixth, but both times they were left stranded.
ECU got one more run in the top of the seventh before UAM went down in order in the bottom of the frame to drop game one 5-1.
Chalenburg (L, 1-4) took the loss in the contest allowing five runs on eight hits in seven innings pitched.
Taia Harris (W, 4-0) picked up the win for the Tigers giving up one unearned run on three hits over seven innings on the mound.
GAME TWO: UAM 6, ECU 5 (8 Inn.)
The Blossoms flipped the script early in game two as the bats came to life in the first inning. Back-to-back singles put runners on the corners for UAM then Sierra Gasca got in a rundown between first and second allowing Stamper to swipe home to put the Blossoms on the board. UAM quickly followed by loading the bases with a single, double and a hit batter before Haley Godeaux and Bailey Camp each picked up two-out RBI-singles to go up 3-0.
Stamper kept the scoring going in the next inning launching a lead off home run to left field.
Jamie Franks held the Tigers scoreless through her first two frames on the mound, but ECU managed to push one across in the third before Franks left two runners stranded on base.
Franks worked out of another jam in the fifth stranding a pair to keep the score 4-1.
ECU finally started to get to Franks in the sixth plating two runs on three hits to cut the Blossoms' lead to one before ultimately tying the game in the seventh.
The Blossom failed to respond in the home half of the seventh sending the contest into extra innings tied 4-4.
The Tigers scratched one across against Franks in the top of the eighth, but UAM was not going to go down quietly.
Madison Morrissey lead off the bottom of the frame with a single and Godeaux followed with a double down the left field line. Camp was then hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Mahayla Mitchell brought in the tying run with a fielder's choice to third. In the very next at bat Stamper flied out to center field, but the Blossoms capitalized on a throwing error by the Tigers that allowed Camp to score from second.
UAM ultimately won 6-5 to earn the day one split with ECU.
Franks (W, 3-4) earned the win pitching all eight innings while allowing five runs on 11 hits and striking out four.
Taryn O'Brien (L, 0-3) ended with the loss after allowing three runs on seven hits in 6.1 innings of relief.
UP NEXT
The series finale between the Blossoms and the Tigers has been moved up to 10 a.m. Saturday morning at Alvy Early Softball Field.
