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   The Cotton Blossoms softball team swept the UAM Super 8 – Subway Classic with a 10-5 victory over Gulf-South rival Arkansas Tech. The Blossoms improved to 7-6.

   In the closest game of the tournament, Becca Tipton’s bat came up huge for the Blossoms, hitting two home runs in the contest. Tipton finished the day 3-4 with five RBIs and two runs scored.

   “We started well and got a big lead, and I thought we lost out intensity in the last part,” Head Coach Alvy Early said.

   Tech scored first when Erica Meza singled to left, scoring Casey Hammons. The Blossoms fired back, scoring seven runs in the bottom of the inning.

   Terri Rodgers led off the inning with a single to left field. Sarah Reed followed with a single, and Rodgers scored when a wild throw went into the dugout. Meredith Heckel and Jamie Dunn both singled, loading the bases for Tipton’s first bat. Tipton cleared the bases with a long grand slam to center field.

   Tech made a pitching change after Hammons walked two and gave up a single, loading the bases. Emily Horne came in to stop the Blossoms but hit the first batter, Rodgers, with a pitch to drive in another run. Reed drove in a run with a single, giving the Blossoms a 7-1 lead.

   Tech struck again in the fourth, scoring two runs. Tipton answered them by hitting her second home run of the game.

   Kayla Temple led of the bottom of the fifth with a home run, extending the lead to 9-3. Later in the inning, Heckel drove in a run, making the score 10-3.

   Tech battled back in the last two innings, scoring one in the sixth by a Terra Brenner single and another in the seventh on a Kristin Chapman solo home run. Monticello’s K.K. Calloway came in for the last two outs to close out the game.

   The Blossoms finished out the tournament 4-0 with big performances coming from two freshmen. Tipton led all batters going 8-13 with four home runs, 10 RBIs and five runs scored. Allison North led all pitchers, going 2-0 with 13 strike outs. She allowed five earned runs in 13.1 innings.

   “In the tournament, I think we hit very well and had freshman step up.  That’s very positive,” Heckel said.

   Sports Information contributed to the article.

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