Paul Smith
Sports Information Director
Vaughn's shutout helps Blossoms split with Chaminade
KAILUA, HI --- Just one game after the University of
Arkansas at Monticello Cotton Blossoms (3-3) suffered
their worst loss of the season, Leah Vaughn (So.,
Crestview, Fla.) turned in UAM's best pitching
performance of the season in the form of a five-hit
shutout Feb. 5 as the Blossoms dropped the opener 10-1
and won the day's finale 2-0.
Meredith Heckel (So., Hot Springs, Ark.) hit an RBI double in the
top of the first inning to give UAM a 1-0 lead;
unfortunately, that would be the last of the highlights
for the Cotton Blossoms in the opener, as Chaminade
exploded for seven runs in the third inning en route to
the victory.
Ashley Burkett (Sr., West Monroe, La.) suffered the loss (1-2)
after allowing seven runs in two innings.
Vaughn was able to silence the Silverswords’ bats from the
beginning in game two, scattering four hits over seven
innings, fanning one. The Blossoms got all the offense
they would need in the second inning, as with two outs,
Lauren Brooks (So., West Monroe, La.) tripled home the
Blossoms’ first run, and Carley Burkett (Sr., West
Monroe, La.) followed immediately with an RBI single of
her own to give the Cotton Blossoms a 2-0 lead.
The Cotton Blossoms return to action Feb. 10, in the North
Alabama tournament. The Blossoms open with a 5 p.m.
contest against West Florida.
Blossoms split with Hawai'i Pacific
KANEOHE, HI --- After dropping a 3-2 heartbreaker in the
day’s opener, the University of Arkansas at Monticello
Cotton Blossoms (2-2) used a two-run sixth inning to
salvage a doubleheader split with the Hawai’i Pacific
University Seasiders, winning the finale 2-1 on Feb. 4
at Sea Warrior Field.
The Sea Warriors opened scoring in the third inning, scoring a run
on an RBI single by Lia Pedrina. HPU extended their lead
to 3-0 in the fifth inning after a pair of RBI singles.
UAM broke through in the sixth inning, as Jenny Dunn (So.,
Adelaide, Australia) drove home two runs with a double
down the leftfield line to cut the deficit to 3-2, but
were unable to muster any offense in the final inning.
Ashley Burkett suffered the loss after allowing three earned runs
in 4.2 innings. Kelli Little (So., West Monroe, La.)
pitched 1.1 innings of scoreless relief in her first
appearance since the 2003 season.
In the day’s finale, HPU once again scored first as Pedrina hit her
second RBI single of the day to once again put the Sea
Warriors ahead 1-0.
UAM was able to finally respond in the sixth inning as Meredith
Heckel (So., Hot Springs, Ark.) singled home Sarah Reed
(Jr., McKinney, Texas), and Kate Brady (So., Longview,
Texas) followed with a sacrifice fly to give the
Blossoms a 2-1 lead.
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Brady (1-0) was up to the task on the
mound as well, picking up the win after scattering
eleven hits over seven innings, allowing one run and
walking two. Reed added two hits in the win.
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