Win streaks held, windshields broke and records fell in a series sweeping final regular season game Saturday, April 28. The Cotton Blossoms beat the Southern Arkansas Lady Muleriders 11-9.

   Alvy Early, head coach of the Blossoms, parked by the home team dugout every game this season. Early contemplated moving his truck in the last game, but decided not to because of superstition. Maybe he should have, since a Gemma Gibson foul ball shattered the front windshield.

   “I will take the broken windshield for a sweep and a conference championship any day,” Early said.

   Southern Arkansas started scoring early in the first. Samantha Hoelscher singled with one out but was put out in a fielder’s choice by Cheyenne Savony. It did not matter because Tisha Thompson hit a two-run shot to put the Lady Muleriders ahead. 

   Meredith Heckel led off the first with a record-breaking solo home run, her 19^th of the season. Heckel broke the record previously held by Laura Lockaby set in 2003.

   In the second, the Lady Muleriders extended its lead with a sacrifice bunt by Joanna Jones. The Blossoms took the lead in the bottom of the same inning.

   Gibson started the inning off with a single. Lauren Brooks singled, and Terri Rodgers walked to load the bases for Heckel. Heckel, with a home run already, cleared the bases with a line drive single to right center. Sarah Reed drove in Heckel with her second home run of the day. Brooks added another run in the third, on her second home run of the season, to give the Blossoms a 7-3 lead.

   Thinking the lead secure, the Blossoms gave up four runs in the fourth.   Kirstie Reed led off the inning, getting hit by a pitch. Stephanie Beason walked, and Jones emptied the bases with a single to center and a throwing error by Rodgers. K.K Calloway came into the game in relief, but gave up two more runs on a wild pitch and a sacrifice. Southern Arkansas was not finished taking the lead in the sixth when Jones scored on Rodgers' second throwing error of the game.

   Blossoms battled back in a two out rally, led off by Heckel hitting a double. Heckel was a single away from hitting for the cycle but would not bat again in the game. Reed flied out, Dunn singled and Kate Brady struck out to bringing up Kayla Temple. Temple tied the game with a single up the middle on a full count. The Blossoms took the lead on a two-run single by Joleah Oxner with bases loaded.

   “When I went up there all I was thinking is ‘Oh no, bases loaded,’” Oxner said. “It was just see ball, hit ball.”

   Brooks extended the lead, scoring Gibson and giving the Blossoms an 11-8 lead going into the last inning. SAU scored a run in the seventh, but Calloway sealed the game with a line out back to the pitcher.

   Heckel went a perfect 3-3 in the game and 5-5 on the day. Brooks had three hits, and six other Blossoms picked up a hit.

   Calloway received her second win on the season in three and two-thirds innings, striking out one.

   With the win, the Blossoms set a school record in wins with 43 and tied a school record with their 19^th win in conference. The Blossoms go into the conference tournament on a nine-game winning streak and a chance to make the regional tournament.