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Blossoms Roll Past Chaminade

HONOLULU, HI (Feb. 8) -- Gemma Gibson (Jr., Dodd City, Texas) turned in a 4-for-4 effort with five RBI as the University of Arkansas at Monticello Cotton Blossoms (3-6) capped their Hawaii trip with a 13-3 victory over Chaminade University.

   Chaminade opened scoring in the bottom of the first inning as Brandi Sasaki smacked an RBI double to give the Silverswords a 1-0 lead, however, the Cotton Blossoms would tie the game in the top of the third as Jenny Dunn (Jr., Adelaide, Australia) hit an RBI grounder. UAM took the lead two batters later as Gibson hit an RBI infield single, and extended their lead to 3-1 after Lauren Brooks (Jr., West Monroe, La.) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

   The Silverswords pulled to within 3-2 as Iwalani Yamaguchi hit an RBI single in the bottom of the third inning, but the Blossoms quickly got the run back to push their lead to 4-2 as Becca Tipton (Fr., Monticello) hit an RBI grounder. Gibson added a three-run double two batters later, pushing UAM’s lead to 7-2, and the Blossoms would score another run as Gibson would score on a wild pitch with two out.

   After Carolyn Fisher led off the fifth inning for Chaminade with a solo home run, the Blossoms came back as Brooks hit an RBI single in the top of the sixth, and then Terri Rodgers (Sr., Enterprise, Ala.) hit a grand slam to cap the scoring for UAM, sealing the win.

   Meredith Heckel (Jr., Hot Springs) turned in a 3-for-4 performance, while Brooks added two hits and drove in a pair of runs. Joleah Oxner (Sr., Monticello) was 1-for-1 with three walks.

   K.K. Calloway (Jr., West Monroe, La.) picked up the win after allowing two hits and one run in 3 2/3 innings of relief. Calloway fanned three in the winning effort.

   The Cotton Blossoms return to action Friday as they host the UAM Super 8 Subway Classic, playing four games on Feb. 16-17 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Ouachita Baptist, Williams Baptist and Arkansas Tech.

Blossoms Split with BYU - Hawaii

LAIE, HI (Feb. 6) – The University of Arkansas at Monticello’s Cotton Blossoms (2-6) salvaged a doubleheader split against the Brigham Young University-Hawaii Seasiders, falling 6-0 in the opener before winning the nightcap 11-7.

   In the opener, the Blossoms only managed four hits, as BYUH’s Crystal de la Cruz tossed her second shutout of the season. The Seasiders scored runs in the first and second innings, taking a 2-0 lead through the fifth inning before tacking on four runs in the sixth.

   Alison North (Fr., Marion, La.) fell to 0-2 on the season after surrendering seven hits and four runs, three earned, in five innings.

   In the nightcap, the Cotton Blossoms exploded for eight runs on the strength of seven two-out hits, including a two-run double by Becca Tipton (Fr., Monticello), a two-run single by Gemma Gibson (Jr., Dodd City, Texas) and a three-run homer by Terri Rodgers (Sr., Enterprise, Ala.)

   The Seasiders pulled to within 8-2 after a two-run first inning, but the Blossoms pushed their lead back to eight after the second inning, as Gibson added another RBI single and Joleah Oxner (Sr., Monticello) scored on an error.

   Jenny Dunn (Jr., Adelaide, Australia) blasted a leadoff homer in the top of the third to push the UAM lead to 11-2, before the Seasiders tacked on another run in the bottom of the inning.

   BYUH would not go quietly, scoring four runs in the fifth inning to pull to within 11-7, but starter Kate Brady (Jr., Longview, Texas) settled down in the sixth and seventh innings to pick up her second win of the season, evening her record at 2-2.

   Brady gave up nine hits and seven runs, six earned while fanning one in her winning effort.

Blossoms Salvage Split at Hawaii Pacific

KANEOHE, HI (Feb. 5) – After dropping a 6-5 heartbreaker to Hawaii Pacific in the opening game of the day’s doubleheader, the University of Arkansas at Monticello’s Cotton Blossoms (1-5) held on to salvage a doubleheader split in the second game after picking up a 3-1 victory.

   In the opener, the Cotton Blossoms seemed to be well on their way to picking up a win, quickly jumping out to a 4-0 lead as Becca Tipton (Fr., Monticello) belted her third home run of the year, a towering grand slam to right-center field in the top of the first inning.

   UAM extended their lead to 5-0 in the top of the third inning as Jenny Dunn (Jr., Adelaide, Australia) scored on a wild pitch.

   The Sea Warriors charged back however, scoring their first run in the bottom of the fourth and then adding two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull to within 5-3.

   Needing two runs to tie and three to win entering the bottom of the seventh inning, the Sea Warriors quickly loaded the bases - tying the game after a wild pitch and picking up the win after a UAM error.

   Leah Vaughn (Jr., Crestview, Fla.) suffered the loss, falling to 0-2 on the season after allowing three runs, two earned, in one third of an inning in relief of Alison North (Fr., Marion, La.), who scattered six hits over six innings, allowing three runs.

   Dunn and Sarah Reed (Sr., McKinney, Texas) both picked up two hits in the loss, while Tipton was three-for-four, adding a double and single to her grand slam.

   In the nightcap, the Blossoms picked up their first win of the season behind the solid pitching of Kate Brady (Jr., Longview, Texas), who scattered seven hits over seven innings, allowing one unearned run, improving to 1-2 on the season.

   The Blossoms scored first once again, as Brady scored on an error in the top of the second inning to give UAM a 1-0 lead. The Cotton Blossoms tacked on another pair in the top of the third, as Meredith Heckel (Jr., Hot Springs) hit an RBI single and Brady hit a sacrifice fly to score Kayla Temple (Fr., West Monroe, La.) and extend the UAM lead to 3-0.

   The Sea Warriors scored their lone run on a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning.

Blossoms Swept on Second Straight Day at Hawaii-Hilo

HILO, HI (Feb. 4) – The University of Arkansas at Monticello’s Cotton Blossoms (0-4) were swept by the Hawaii-Hilo Vulcans for the second straight day, dropping a 7-6 decision in game one and falling 12-4 in the nightcap.

   The Blossoms opened scoring in the top of the first inning as Kate Brady (Jr., Longview, Texas) smacked an RBI double, plating Meredith Heckel (Jr., Hot Springs) to give UAM a 1-0 lead. The Vulcans tied the contest in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly.

   UAM jumped out to a 3-1 lead after the top of the second inning, as Jenny Dunn (Jr., Adelaide, Australia) hit an RBI single and Terri Rodgers (Sr., Enterprise, Ala.) added an RBI grounder. However, the Vulcans jumped on UAM starter Leah Vaughn (Jr., Crestview, Fla.) in the bottom of the second, scoring five runs on three hits to push ahead 6-3.

   Dunn pulled the Blossoms to within 6-5 in the top of the third, belting a two-out, two-run homer to center.

   UAM tied the game in the fifth on a fielder’s choice, but the Blossoms’ rally would fall short as UHH’s Brittany Dock hit a walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the seventh to clinch the Vulcan victory.

   Vaughn (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing seven runs, all earned, and nine hits in 6 two-third innings, fanning three but walking six. Dunn and Brady both picked up three hits in the loss.

   In the nightcap, the Vulcans scored first, plating a single run in the top of the third before the Cotton Blossoms’ bats came to life, as Becca Tipton (Fr., Monticello) belted her second home run of the year, a three-run shot with two out to give UAM a 3-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning.

   Leading off the top of the fifth inning, Kayla Temple (Fr., West Monroe, La.) belted a solo home run to extend the UAM lead to 4-1, but the Vulcans came alive in the bottom of the inning, scoring five runs to pull ahead 6-4, and then adding six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to end the ballgame.

   Brady (0-2) suffered the loss for UAM after allowing 13 hits in 5 2/3 innings, allowing 12 runs, all earned, and walking four while striking out just one.

Blossoms Swept by Uh-Hilo in Season-Opening Doubleheader

HILO, HI (Feb. 3) – The University of Arkansas at Monticello’s Cotton Blossoms (0-2) struggled in their first two games of the 2007 season, falling 7-1 and 7-3 to the Hawaii-Hilo Vulcans Thursday.

   In the opening game, the Vulcans tagged UAM starter Kate Brady (Jr., Longview, Texas) for seven hits and six runs, all earned, in three innings. Brady walked seven in the loss.

   UHH scored five runs in the first and extended their lead to 6-0 in the third inning. The Cotton Blossoms finally broke through in the top of the sixth inning, as Kim Gibson (Fr., Dodd City, Texas) swatted an RBI single to center, scoring Meredith Heckel (Jr., Hot Springs)

   The Vulcans added another run in the bottom of the sixth to extend their lead in the win. Brady fell to 0-1 on the season in the loss. Kim Gibson tossed three innings in relief, scattering four hits and allowing one run.

   In the nightcap, the Vulcans jumped out to a four-run lead, chasing starter Alison North (Fr., Marion, La.) from the game in the third inning. However, the Blossoms clawed back, as Heckel blasted a one-out home run to center to bring UAM to within 4-1. Three batters later, Becca Tipton (Fr., Monticello) blasted a two-run homer down the right field line to pull UAM to within 4-3.

   However, the offensive highlights ended there for the Cotton Blossoms, and the Vulcans continued their offensive barrage, scoring two more runs in the fourth and one in the sixth to coast to the victory.

   North (0-1) suffered the loss for UAM. Heckel picked up two hits in the loss.

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