RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas at Monticello softball team dropped a pair of Gulf South Conference games to the Golden Suns of Arkansas Tech with final scores of 5-2 in the opening game and a 1-0 loss in the second game.
 
In the second game, neither team managed to produce anything offensively, forcing the game into extra innings. With a scoreless game going into the bottom of the ninth inning, Tech secured the two-game sweep with a sacrifice fly from Shanda Jimeson that plated the winning run.
 
Junior Lindsay Randall (Keithville, La.) led the Blossoms from the dish after going 2 for 4 in the game with two singles.
 
Senior Kate Brady (Longview, Texas) recorded the loss, moving to 9-10 this season, after allowing the only run in the ball game off six hits, while striking out six of 33 batters she faced.
 
In the first game, Tech jumped out to a 5-0 advantage just three innings into the game, thanks in part to a three-run home run from Tiphani Moon in the bottom of the third.
 
The Blossoms got on the scoreboard when senior Meredith Heckel (Hot Springs, Ark) blasted her 13th round tripper of the season with a solo-blast in the top of the fourth inning.
 
Then in the top of the sixth, UAM plated its other run when senior Gemma Gibson (Dodd City, Texas) reached on a throwing error that allowed sophomore Becca Tipton (Dermott, Ark.) to score. Tipton doubled to left center field earlier in the inning.
 
Junior Becca Sustaire (Hallsville, Texas) dropped to 9-14 this season after allowing five runs off 10 hits in her six innings of action.

With the two losses, UAM drops to 18-27 overall and 11-12 in the GSC, while the division-leading Arkansas Tech improves to 36-13 overall and 18-7 in the GSC.

The Blossoms now prepare to host Southern Arkansas on Tuesday, Apr. 22 at Blossom Field for a GSC double header starting at 1 p.m.