MONTICELLO – Freshman Kayla Jackson threw her first career no-hitter in a 4-0 win over Alcorn State, followed by the team’s 10-6 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the University of Arkansas at Monticello Round Robin Classic.
 
Jackson’s no-hitter improved her overall season record to 10-0 and dropped her ERA to 0.34. All of her wins have come in complete-game style, five of which were shut-outs. The no-hitter was the 18th in program history.
 
Jackson was also responsible for half of UAM’s runs with a two-RBI infield-single in the bottom of the third inning to score freshman Meagan Wilson and senior Lindsey Randall. Wilson doubled to left-center, followed by Randall’s single down the left-field line.
 
The other two runs came from junior Emilie Hobbs’ two-run homerun in the bottom of the sixth inning, plating junior Becca Tipton, who singled up the middle one batter earlier.
 
Jackson threw five perfect innings and only allowed Alcorn State to reach scoring position twice.
 
The second game was dampened by a messy second inning, when UA-Pine Bluff scored five runs off five walks and five wild pitches. In the bottom half of the inning, UAM answered with six runs off three walks, two wild pitches and two passed balls. Those six runs re-gained the lead for UAM at 7-5.
 
“The second inning of the second game is probably the worst inning ever played on that field,” said UAM head coach Alvy Early. “However, I was very proud to see our ladies battle through it to get a win… I thought Becca Sustaire had an excellent game and really changed the momentum both offensively and defensively.”
 
Sustaire (2-0) was the third UAM pitcher in the game and pitched the final five and one third innings, allowing only one run off three hits and did not give up a walk. She also struck out five batters. Offensively, Sustaire went 2 for 3 at the plate, including a three-run homerun in the bottom of the sixth inning to give UAM its final 10-6 advantage.
 
Freshman Amanda Nordberg also hit a homerun in the game with a solo-blast to left field in the bottom of the second inning.
 
The Blossoms conclude play in the UAM Round Robin tomorrow (Wednesday) with 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. rematches with Alcorn State and Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Blossoms Field.