DECATUR, Ala. --- Amber Browning fanned 13 Blossoms and allowed just one hit as the No.1 West Florida Argonauts (41-3, 12-1 GSC) captured a 2-0 victory over the University of Arkansas at Monticello Cotton Blossoms (28-14, 8-8 GSC) April 14 in the opener of the Gulf South Conference Crossover tournament.

   Megan Lybarger (5-5) pitched effectively for the Blossoms, who kept the Argonauts off the board until the fifth inning when an illegal pitch allowed UWF to score their first run. One inning later, Erica Olson led off with a homer to center field providing all the offense West Florida would need.

   Lybarger suffered the loss despite allowing just three hits in six innings, giving up the two runs, both earned, walking four and fanning three.

   The Blossoms offense was unable to get started against Browning (22-3), who gave up just one hit, walking none, and fanning 13.

   UAM managed only two base-runners for the game.

   The Blossoms return to action today at 3 p.m., facing Lincoln Memorial in second-day action at the Gulf South Conference crossover in Decatur.

Lose series with OBU

   ARKADELPHIA ---  The University of Arkansas at Monticello Cotton Blossoms (28-13, 8-7 GSC) dropped two of three games in a weekend series with Ouachita Baptist, falling 7-5 on April 8, dropping the April 9 opening game 2-1 and winning the series finale 9-7. 

   In Friday's game, the Blossoms jumped ahead to a 3-2 lead after three innings, before the Tigers responded with a five-run fourth inning, boosted by two UAM errors.  

   Ashley Burkett (15-4) suffered the loss after scattering nine hits over six innings and allowing seven runs, of which only two were earned. 

   Courtney Doyle went 2-for-4 with two RBI, all coming on a second-inning home run. Kate Brady also went deep for the Blossoms. 

   In Saturday's opener, the Blossoms jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning on an RBI double by Sarah Reed, but OBU tied the game in the fourth and took the lead in the sixth as the Blossoms offense was unable to produce any more runs. 

   Burkett (15-5) suffered the loss despite tossing a gem, allowing only three hits in six innings, giving up two runs and fanning five. 

   The Blossoms finally notched a win in the series finale, taking a 9-7 decision in the series-closing slugfest. 

   Both teams were tied at six going into the seventh inning, when the Blossoms took the lead on an RBI double by Jenny Dunn where Dunn also scored on an error. UAM added their last run on a homer by Carley Burkett. 

   OBU threatened in the seventh, but only managed to score one more run and the Blossoms picked up the win.  

   Lindsay Rymes (1-0) earned the victory after scattering five hits over 3 1/3 innings, allowing two runs and fanning two.

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