Blossoms Battle in GSC Crossover Tournament

Sports Information Director

Blossoms Shut-Out on Last Day of GSC Crossover

   The University of Arkansas at Monticello’s softball team was shut out twice on the final day of the 2008 Gulf South Conference Crossover Tournament by losing to North Alabama 4-0, followed by an 8-0 loss to No. 3 Alabama-Huntsville Sunday, April 13.

   In the loss to North Alabama, sophomore Becca Tipton (Dermott) led the way for the Blossoms, going 2-for-3 with two singles to center field.

   Senior Kate Brady (Longview, Texas) dropped to 8-9 on the season after allowing four runs off eight hits in her complete game loss.

   In the loss to Alabama-Huntsville, the Blossoms were out hit 11-4, leading a run-rule finish, after UAH scored eight un-answered runs in five innings.

  Half of UAM’s hits came from senior Meredith Heckel (Hot Springs), who went 2-for-3 in the game, including an infield single and a single to right field.

   Junior Becca Sustaire (Hallsville, Texas) dropped to 9-12 on the season after allowing eight runs (four earned) off 11 hits in five innings of work.

   The Blossoms racked up a 2-3 record in the GSC Crossover and now stand 17-24 overall and 10-9 in the GSC.

   UAM continues GSC play this Wednesday, April 16, when the team hosts Arkansas Tech for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. from Blossom Field.

Heckel’s Grand Slam Lifts Blossoms Over West Georgia in GSC Crossover

   The softball team posted a 7-4 victory over the Lady Wolves of West Georgia thanks in part to a couple of home runs from senior Meredith Heckel Saturday, April 12.

   Heckel (Hot Springs) was responsible for all of UAM’s seven runs after dropping a four-RBI grand slam home run in the top of the second inning, followed by a two-RBI blast in the top of the fourth inning to give her a career-high six RBIs in the game. Thanks to a UWG throwing error, Heckel scored the seventh and final UAM run in the top of the sixth inning.

   Heckel’s home runs were number 11 and 12 on the season.

   Junior Lindsay Randall (Keithville, La.) went 2-for-4 in the game, while senior Lauren Brooks (West Monroe, La.) went 1-for-2 with two runs scored.

   Junior Becca Sustaire (Hallsville, Texas) improved to 9-11 after throwing a complete game, allowing four runs off six hits, while only walking two of the 32 batters she faced.

   The Blossoms moved to 17-22 overall and 10-7 GSC.

Courtesy of Media Services

Expressive Pitch - Senior starter Kate Brady of Longview Texas, pitches in a GSC Crossove Tournament Game.  The Blossoms lost to the Lady Argos 1-0.

Blossoms Fall to West Florida in Low-Scoring Affair, Second Game Rained Out

   Despite a good pitching performance from senior starter Kate Brady (Longview, Texas), the Blossoms were unable to produce anything from their offense.

   Brady (8-8) threw a complete game, only allowing one run off six hits. Brady struck out six of the 34 batters she faced.

   The Lady Argos held UAM to only three base hits in the game, all from Blossom seniors. Meredith Heckel (Hot Springs), Jenny Dunn (Adelaide, Australia) and Lauren Brooks (West Monroe, La.) were the Blossom batters to record a base hit in the game.

   The Lady Argos scored their lone run in the top of the second inning with an RBI-single from Whitney Gay.

   Senior Gemma Gibson (Dodd City, Texas) went 0-for-3 to end her hitting streak at 10 straight games. Dunn is now on a six-game hitting streak.

   UAM was scheduled to play a second game Friday at 4 p.m. against Valdosta State. However, the game was cancelled due to rain.

   The Blossoms are now 16-22 overall and 9-7 in the GSC.

Blossoms Beat West Alabama in First Game of GSC Crossover Tournament

   The softball team opened up play in the Gulf South Conference Crossover Tournament with a 6-1 victory over the Lady Tigers of West Alabama Thursday, April 10 in Decatur, Ala.

Courtesy of Media Services

Good Swing - Meredith Heckel (senior, Hot Springs) hits a pitch from a Lady Tiger of West Alabama during a Gulf South Conference Crossover Tournament game Thursday, April 10.  The Blossoms beat the Lady Tigers 6-1.

   The Blossoms used a couple of three-run innings, while only allowing four base hits to aid to the victory.

   Senior Jenny Dunn (Adelaide, Australia) pushed UAM to a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning with a two-RBI single up the middle that scored senior Meredith Heckel (Hot Springs) and senior Lauren Brooks (West Monroe, La.). Heckel hit an RBI-single earlier in the inning to open the scoring.

   Then in the top of the fourth inning, junior Lindsey Randall (Keithville, La.) hit a two-RBI single up the middle, also scoring Heckel and Brooks. Earlier in the inning, Heckel mirrored the third inning with another RBI-single.

   Senior Gemma Gibson (Dodd City, Texas) went one-for-four in the game to extend her hitting streak to 10 straight games.

   Junior Becca Sustaire (Hallsville, Texas) improved her season record to 8-11 after throwing a complete game, only allowing one run (not earned) off four hits, while only walking three of the 28 batters she faced.

   With the win, UAM improved to 16-21 overall and 9-6 in the GSC.

Blossoms Sweep Ouachita Baptist, Retake 4th Place in GSC West

   Senior Gemma Gibson’s six hits in two games led the Blossoms softball team to a pair of huge wins over the Lady Tigers of Ouachita Baptist with final scores of 12-3 and 7-1 Tuesday, April 8.

   Gibson (Dodd City, Texas) tied her season high in hits with a four-for-five game at the dish with three runs scored in the first game.

   One of her hits came in the top of the seventh inning when the Blossoms used five runs to create a deficit too large for the Lady Tigers to overcome.

Courtesy of Media Services

Fires to First - Senior Gemma Gibson of Dodd City, Texas, fires to first.  The Blossoms beat the Lady Tigers of Ouachita Baptist Tuesday, April 8.

   In that inning, junior Lindsay Randall (Keithville, La.), sophomore Becca Tipton (Dermott), senior Jenny Dunn (Adelaide, Australia) and senior Kate Brady (Longview, Texas) all drove in one run to add to the lead.

   Brady finished the game with three RBIs after also smashing a two-RBI single in the third inning that scored senior Meredith Heckel (Hot Springs) and Gibson, who both reached with base hits.

   Junior starting pitcher Becca Sustaire (Hallsville, Texas) improved her season record to 7-11 after throwing a complete game, only allowing three runs off nine hits.

   In the second game, Heckel contributed to UAM’s four-run fourth inning with a two-RBI triple, her first of the season. One batter later, Gibson smashed an RBI-single to left field, helping her extend her hitting streak to nine straight games.

   Gibson, Brady and sophomore Kayla Temple (West Monroe, La.) all went two-for-four from the dish to lead the team, while Randall went two-for-three, while three other Blossoms recorded a hit.

   Brady improved her season record to 8-7 with a complete game, only allowing one run off seven hits.

   With the two wins, UAM (15-21, 8-6 GSC) moved back into sole possession of fourth place in the GSC West Division The Blossoms are scheduled to play six games in the GSC Crossover Tournament, all against GSC East schools.

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