Cotton Blossoms Sweep Through Hampton Inn Softball Classic

Courtesy University of Arkansas at Monticello Athletics Department

MONTICELLO — The University of Arkansas at Monticello softball team recorded wins over Newman (5-0) and Cameron (10-3) on Sunday at home on the final day of the Hampton Inn Classic to remain undefeated with four wins to start the 2013 season.

In UAM’s first win of the day, a 5-0 victory over Newman (2-1), the Cotton Blossoms started the scoring on a two-run homerun to left from junior Summer Huddleston that also scored junior Brittany Eitel, who was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning.

UAM added another run in the fourth on a bases loaded walk from senior Maggie Sands to score Huddleston, who also walked earlier in the inning.

UAM finalized the scoring in the fifth on a leadoff solo homerun from Beth Johnson, followed later in the inning with an RBI infield single from junior Hannah Pendley to score junior Channing Tharpe, who walked earlier in the frame.

Junior Courtney Wilson (1-0) recorded the shutout in complete-game fashion, allowing five hits, striking out four and walking three in seven innings of work. Newman’s Molly Hein (0-1) took the loss after allowing five runs off seven hits with two strikeouts and four walks in the first 4.1 innings of the game.

Senior Randa Perry pitched out of two bases loaded jams in UAM’s 10-3 win over Cameron in the second game of the day. The Lady Aggies (1-3) tied UAM in hits with 11, but the team stranded a total of 10 base runners throughout the contest to allow for run differential. Perry (2-0) ended up with the complete-game win after allowing three runs (two earned) off 11 hits with three strikeouts and two walks in her seven innings of work.

Cameron started the scoring in the top of the first with back-to-back RBI groundouts from sisters Tara and Leslie Martini. UAM answered in the bottom of the first on a two-RBI single from Eitel. The Cotton Blossoms went up 7-2 in the second, started by a solo homerun to right center from freshman Jennie Johnson.

Sophomore Sara Matthews and Tharpe also picked up RBIs in the second-inning rally. Matthews collected an RBI single to center to score Sands, who singled up the middle earlier in the inning. Tharpe picked up an RBI fielder’s choice later in the inning that scored Huddleston from third. Huddleston singled earlier in the inning. Also on Tharpe’s fielder’s choice, Matthews scored from second after a questionable call at second base distracted the CU second baseman.

UAM finalized the scoring with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Jennie Johnson started the rally with an RBI single up the middle, immediately followed by legged out RBI double from Pendley. Johnson later scored on a wild pitch.

Three Cotton Blossoms posted multiple hit games in the victory. Beth Johnson went 2-for-4, while Eitel and Jennie Johnson each went 2-for-3.

Samantha Anderson took the loss for the Aggies, after allowing nine runs (seven earned) off eight hit with three strikeouts and one walk in the first 3.2 innings.

The Cotton Blossoms are on the road next weekend to Durant, Okla. to participate in the Southeastern Oklahoma State University Regional Invitational. UAM is scheduled to play six games throughout the week, starting with a matchup against Angelo State at noon on Friday, February 8.