SPORTS

April 29, 2004

Blossoms' Kight and Hickman named GSC Players of the Week | Weevils' Sanders Inks Free Agent Deal with Dallas Cowboys | Weevils Drop Series to Harding | Blossoms Clinch Fifth Consecutive GSC West Crown | Green and White Game | Blossoms Sweep Doubleheader on Wild Night | Weevils Knock Off UAPB 8-2 | Weevils Fall in Close Outings with Harding
 

Weevils' Sanders Inks Free Agent Deal with Dallas Cowboys

By Stephen Fuller

Former Arkansas-Monticello offensive lineman Darrick Sanders has signed a two-year free agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys.

Sanders, a 6-4, 323-pound tackle from Pine Bluff, Ark., was named this past season to the 2003 All-Gulf South Conference First Team and he was selected to participate in the 2004 “Whataburger” Cactus Bowl (a Division II All-Star game).

During the 2001-’02 seasons, Sanders helped pave the way for UAM career-rushing leader Corwin Elliott, who rushed for consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.

This past season, Sander’s role switched to more pass-protection, as the Boll Weevils’ quarterback led the nation in total offense and the squad established several new single-season passing records.

Sanders joins former UAM standout wide receiver Derick Armstrong, a member of the Houston Texans, as the only UAM players currently listed on an NFL roster.

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Weevils Drop Series to Harding

By Stephen Fuller

The University of Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils baseball squad could not keep up with Harding's offense as the Bisons won game three of the Gulf South Conference series 12-1, Sunday afternoon at Weevils Field.

Harding took advantage of two first inning Weevil errors to score three runs in the first, as the Bisons never looked back.

After adding another run in the second and fourth, Harding plated three more runs in the fifth, highlighted by solo home run to lead off the inning, to take a 8-0 lead.

In the bottom half of the fifth, Ken Merrill doubled, scoring Josh Reagan from first, but it was the only run the Weevils could muster on the day.

Harding added four more runs in the seventh off of reliever Billy Smith to clinch the 12-1 win.

Kyle Rogers fell to 2-1 on the season, allowing just three earned runs on nine hits, while striking out three.  Billy Smith and Luke Johnson pitched in relief.

With the loss, UAM drops to 26-23 on the year, 6-14 in the GSC, while Harding improves to 21-18, 8-10 on the season.

UAM returns to action on Saturday, April 24, in a doubleheader against Delta State.  The Weevils finish the series with one game on Sunday.

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Green and White Game

By DaQuita Hardeman

The Boll Weevils took the field once again this pre-season for the second of two green and white football games on April 15, 2004. “The purpose of the green and white game is for new players and freshmen to prove to coach that they can play.” says senior tailback Craig Reed.

After three weeks and 15 practices, the team has been preparing for the upcoming season. Reed comments, “I see a lot of young players contributing to our success. There are some more experienced players on the team, but we are going to have to depend on the help of some younger players.”

Reed, who is a returning starter on the offensive side of the ball had an outstanding season last year finishing with 500-yards rushing and six touchdowns, he is seen as a great asset to the team.

Reed says that he sees senior quarterback Cory Allred as a great asset to the team in the way that he can make so much happen from the quarterback position. “He gives us advantages that most teams don’t have. He is a threat to run and pass the ball at any time.”

 Looking back to last year’s season that ended with a 4-7 record, there is a high anticipation of a successful upcoming season. Though there is a lot of negative energy directed towards the team because of their not so successful past seasons, Reed says, “We use the negative criticism as fuel. A lot of the games that we won and games that we barely lost a lot of people thought that we wouldn’t be in them. Despite of what the critics may say, we expect to have a winning season.”

“I expect for the defense to be a lot faster than it was last year with players like Travis Grey, I.V. Anderson, Marcus Wallace and others. They’ll make our defense a lot faster than what it was last year.”

He goes on to say, “I am looking for Rodney [Montgomery] to be the leading receiver in the conference since he ended last year as the second in the conference and I am looking for Cory [Allred] to be the top player in the Division II. I also expect young receivers like Kreston Gibbs, Ebony Johnson, and Rob Johnson to exceed all expectations”

After speaking with several players, it is safe to say that the Boll Weevil fans should be prepared for a season full of interceptions, tackles, gained yardage, touchdowns and record breaking.

“We hope that the students, faculty, staff and alumni of UAM come to the games next season to support us” ends Reed.

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Weevils Fall in Close Outings Against Harding

By Stephen Fuller

The University of Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils baseball squad failed to hold a late lead, falling 7-6 against Harding in game two of a doubleheader, Saturday afternoon at Weevil Field.  UAM dropped the opener 5-3.

After the Weevils rallied from three down to take a 4-3 lead in the fifth inning, Harding answered with four runs in the sixth to hold off the UAM charge and grab a 7-4 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth.

Brett Guillory led off the sixth with a walk and later scored on a Chris Weast sacrifice fly, before Derek Efird's solo homerun over the left field wall pulled UAM to within one, 7-6.

The Weevils could not keep the rally going, falling by one in game two of the doubleheader.

Nick Johnson fell to 3-6 on the season, allowing seven runs on nine hits in six innings of work.  Randy Schrock made his second appearance of the day, hurling a hitless seventh inning in the loss.

n game one, UAM scored two runs in the top of the first inning to take control of the opener, before Harding scored one run in each of the next four innings to erase the deficit and grab a 4-3 advantage after five innings of play. 

The Weevils briefly tied the game at 3-3 in the fourth after Bo Weems doubled to begin the inning, but could not keep the momentum.  The Bison added an insurance run in the seventh to claim the 5-3 advantage.

The Weevil defense failed to make two critical double plays, scoring in each of the innings, as UAM committed three errors in all.

Josh McClain, 6-2 on the season, was credited with the loss after giving up four earned runs on eight hits through six innings of work.  Schrock allowed two hits in three innings of work to close out the game.

Harding's M. Connett picked up the win in game one with the complete game six-hitter.

With the losses, UAM drops to 26-22, 6-13 on the season, while Harding improves to 20-18, 7-10 on the year.

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Blossoms' Kight and Hickman Named GSC Players of the Week   Photo Courtesy of UAM Media Services

By Stephen Fuller

The University of Arkansas-Monticello swept the Gulf South Conference West Division's weekly honors as Lindsey Kight and Jennifer Hickman were named Pitcher and Player of the Week, it was announced Tuesday.

Kight earned her second Pitcher of the Week honors this season after collecting all four Blossoms victories, including two extra-inning complete game wins over Southern Arkansas to end the regular season.  The senior ace struck 29 and recorded a 0.75 ERA on the week.

Hickman picked up her first Player of the Week award after leading UAM with a .438 batting average in four games.  The freshman broke a 2-2 tie in the first game of the week against Central Arkansas with her second grand slam of the season to propel UAM to a 6-2 win.  Hickman finished the week with 7 RBI and a .750 slugging percentage.

The Blossoms clinched their fifth consecutive GSC West title and open up against Lincoln Memorial at the conference tournament in Meridian, Mississippi on Friday at 2 PM. 

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Blossoms Clinch Fifth Consecutive GSC West Crown

By Stephen Fuller

Senior ace Lindsey Kight collected her second consecutive complete game extra inning victory as the University of Arkansas-Monticello captured its fifth straight Gulf South Conference West Division softball title with a 1-0 eight-inning victory over Southern Arkansas, Saturday afternoon at Blossoms Field.  The second game of the doubleheader was cancelled due to inclement weather.

The Blossoms' Sarah Reed drew a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the eighth inning to score Jennifer Hickman from third and give UAM the victory.

Both teams had chances to break away from the scoreless tie in the seventh inning.

In the top of the frame, the Lady Riders rallied with two outs to load the bases and threaten to take the lead.  Pinch hitter Brittany Bennett fielder's choice landed in front of the plate after bouncing off UAM catcher Carley Burkett's foot before Kight grabbed the ball and tagged home plate to end the inning, just before SAU reached home.

In the bottom of the inning, UAM returned the favor, loading the bases after two outs before Laura Lockaby grounded out to end the inning and send the game into extra innings.

Kight, who pitched 11 innings on Friday afternoon to lead the Blossoms to victory, scattered three hits over 8.0 innings of action.  The Raymond, Miss. native, who is the GSC's all-time leader in strikeouts, fanned five and walked just one to pick up her fourth win of the week.

UAM, winners of 11 straight,  becomes the first school in conference history to win five consecutive GSC Division titles as they improved to 34-11, 19-5 on the year.  Southern Arkansas fell to 23-17, 13-10 with the loss.

The Blossoms gear up for the GSC conference tournament, beginning Friday, April 30th in Meridian, Mississippi.  UAM is tentatively scheduled to meet the GSC East's fourth place finisher at 2 PM at the Northeast Recreation Complex.

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Blossoms Sweep Doubleheader On Wild Night

By Stephen Fuller

Jennifer Hickman belted her second grand slam of the season and Laura Lockaby tied the school mark for home runs as Arkansas-Monticello swept Central Arkansas 6-2 and 12-9 in eight innings, Tuesday evening in softball action.

In the opener with the score tied at 2-2 in the top of the seventh inning, Hickman connected on the bases clearing homerun over the right center field wall to give UAM the 6-2 victory.

Earlier in the game, Lockaby hit her 12th homer of the season, giving her 30 in her career, to tie the career mark also held by Julie Bowen.  Lockaby accomplished the feat in under two seasons.

Lindsey Kight struck out 11 and scattered nine hits over seven innings of work to pick up the win.

In game two, the Blossoms squandered a 7-0 lead to let the Bears back into the game.  After UCA cut the lead to 7-5, Jodie Scott cracked a two-run homer down the right field line to push the Blossoms lead back to four, 9-5.

Central Arkansas fought back to tie the game at 9-9, before Kight returned to shut down the Bears.  The senior ace pitched the final two innings, striking out three, to put UAM back in command.

UAM scored three in the top of the eighth for the 12-9 victory.

With two wins this weekend, the Blossoms can clinch the GSC West Crown for the fifth consecutive season.

UAM returns to action on Friday at 2 PM with game one of a three-game series against Southern Arkansas.  Saturday's doubleheader begins at 1 PM. 

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UAM Weevils Knock off UAPB 8-2

By Stephen Fuller

The University of Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils baseball squad scored four runs in the sixth inning to pull away for Arkansas-Pine Bluff in a 8-2 victory, Wednesday afternoon at Regional Park.

Ken Merrill's first inning solo home run put the Weevils ahead 1-0.

In the bottom of the fifth, UAPB loaded the bases with no outs, but the defense came up big, using a double play and fly out to center to end the inning and preserve the one run advantage.

In UAM's four run sixth, the Weevils took advantage of an error, a wild pitch, and two bases-loaded walks to take control of the game 5-0.  The Weevils added tow runs in the seventh, after Daniel Henderson's lead-off double.  A Chris Weast single and Zack Smith bunt plated the next two runs for the 7-0 lead.

The Lions scored twice in the eight, but could not come back as the Weevils picked up the win 8-2.

Zach Snyder earned the win, allowing nine hits while striking out five in the victory.

With the win, UAM improved to 26-20 on the year and 3-0 against UAPB.

UAM returns to action on Satruday, April 17, with a doubleheader against Harding beginning at 12 PM.  Both squads return for action on Sunday at 1 PM for the series finale.

me two, her first no-hitter of her collegiate career, in the 8-0 win.  The sophomore hurler struck out five to claim UAM's sixth ever perfect game.

Laura Lockaby's first inning solo bomb off of OBU starter Sarah Sartor set the tone for the Blossoms' offense as Arkansas-Monticello tallied 10 hits in the game.

In the second inning, Jodie Scott singled up the middle plating both Rachael Blakeley and Lindsey Rios to push the Blossoms' advantage to 3-0.

UAM added to its lead in the fifth on a Blakely single to right field before exploding for four runs in the sixth to grab the 8-0 victory.

In the opener, the Blossoms struck for two runs in the first inning to jump out to a 2-0 lead after one.  In the third, UAM added and insurance run to build its lead to 3-0; it was all the offense that senior ace Lindsey Kight would need.

Kight, 15-7 on the season, struck out nine and walked just one in seven innings of work.  The senior ace allowed three hits, and just four over 14 innings of work in her two dominating wins against OBU in the series.

Scott went four for six from the plate, with two runs scored and two RBI on the day, while Lockaby and Doyle each recorded three hits in the wins.  During the series, UAM out hit Ouachita Baptist 31-4 from the plate.

With the wins, UAM improved to 27-11 overall, 14-5 in the GSC as the Blossoms rolled to their 13th consecutive win at home.  The Lady Tigers fell to 13-31, 2-17 on the season.

The Blossoms return to action on Tuesday, April 13th, as UAM travels to Itta Bena, Mississippi for one game against Division I Mississippi Valley State.  Game time is set for 2 PM.

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