MONTICELLO – Behind an eight RBI effort from freshman Randa Perry, the University of Arkansas at Monticello softball team (24-3) picked up a pair of wins over Southern University (12-15) in non-conference play by final scores of 5-0 and 11-3.
 
Perry only had one hit in the first game, but her three-run homerun to right field in the bottom of the fifth inning gave the Blossoms their final 5-0 advantage. In the second game, not only did she pick up her fourth win on the mound, she smashed another three-run homerun, this time in the bottom of the fourth inning to give her team enough runs to record the eight-run rule victory. Earlier in the second game, she drilled a two-RBI triple to right center as part of UAM’s six-run second inning.
 
In the first game, junior Emilie Hobbs ended the scoring draught for either team, recording an RBI single to right field in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring senior pinch-runner Taura Rush, running for freshman Meagan Wilson, who doubled to right center earlier in the inning.
 
Senior Becca Sustaire followed later with an RBI-double to left field, scoring senior Lindsey Randall. That set up Perry’s first three-run homer of the day.
 
Freshman Kayla Jackson (15-1) recorded her 14th complete-game of the season and seventh shut-out, only allowing three hits in her seven innings of work. She also tallied five strikeouts, giving her 66 total this season.
 
In the second game, UAM used a six-run second inning, highlighted by Perry’s triple, to gain a 6-2 lead. Sustaire scored Perry one at-bat later with an RBI double to left field. Two batters later, Wilson drove in Sustaire with an RBI sacrifice fly. Randall followed Wilson with a two-run line-drive homerun over the left field fence to finalize the scoring in the inning.
 
UAM struck again in the bottom of the third with an RBI-single to left field by junior Kayla Temple, scoring Hobbs, who led off the inning with a walk.
 
Before Perry’s three-run homerun in the fourth, Tipton smashed an RBI-triple down the right field line, scoring freshman Katie Bowman, who doubled to right center earlier in the inning.
 
Perry (4-2) earned the win after pitching the first four innings, allowing three runs off six hits. She allowed two walks and also recorded two strikeouts.
 
The Blossoms step back into Gulf South Conference action this weekend with a four-game series at Ouachita Baptist, starting with a double-header on Saturday, March 28 at 1 p.m. from Sully Anderson Field in Arkadelphia, Ark. The two squads conclude the series with a double-header on Sunday, also starting at 1 p.m.