[April 26, 2008]

By: Houston Taylor

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas’ softball season came to a close Saturday as the Lady Muleriders (10-31, 5-24 GSC) were swept 9-0 and 11-9 by Arkansas-Monticello in Gulf South Conference play at the Ballpark on Stadium.

The Cotton Blossoms (22-29, 15-14 GSC) took the opening shutout in five innings on the eight-run rule, and came from behind with three runs in the final seventh inning to win the nightcap. They got home runs from Lindsey Randall and Heather Greer in the first game, and a three-hit, five RBI performance, including two home runs, from All-America first baseman Meredith Heckel in the closer.

UAM had a combined 26 hits on the day, with 12 coming in the opener. They played error-free and left nine on base, while SAU was limited to five hits, committed two errors, and stranded four.

Randall had a solo shot for Arkansas-Monticello’s first run in the first, and Greer’s was a three-run bomb in the final fifth. Randall and Becca Tipton each finished with three hits and two RBI in the contest.

Second baseman Joanna Jones had two of Southern Arkansas’ five hits, both singles as they were without an extra-base hit.

Kate Brady went the distance in picking up the win, striking out one.

Alex Doyle (5-9) was in the circle and took the loss, lasting two innings. She gave up five of the hits and six runs, with five earned, and walked three. Nicole Nicholas tossed the final three innings.

The Lady Muleriders plated four runs in the second inning of the doubleheader-ender for an early advantage, but after getting a solo in the third, the Cotton Blossoms exploded for seven more in the fourth for an 8-4 margin. SAU responded with two runs on a Samantha Holescher home run in their bottom half and then added three more in the sixth to move back in front, 9-8. But a two-run homer from Heckel, her 15th on the season, and an RBI sac bunt gave UAM its eventual winning runs in the seventh. Southern Arkansas’ Samantha Maurer got a leadoff single to start their final frame, but she was stranded there as the rest of the lineup went down in order.

Heckel’s first home run of the game was a solo in the third and she added her remaining two RBI on a fourth-inning single. Randall and Tipton also had three hits apiece in the game, with each getting a double.

Kirstie Reed led the Lady Muleriders with three hits and two RBI, while Maurer and Samantha Hoelscher had two hits and two RBI each. Reed and Maurer both had doubles, as did Kilty Arny.

Brady (13-10) threw 1 2/3 innings in relief to also get the win in this one, allowing four hits and two earned runs, while fanning one.

Sarah Holub (0-9) tossed 3 2/3 innings in relief of Cheyenne Savony and was tagged with the loss. Holub gave up seven hits, five runs of which three were earned, and three walks, while striking out one.

Arkansas-Monticello did their damage on 14 hits, while SAU finished with 13.

Six seniors who saw their final action for Southern Arkansas and were honored between games were Jones (Needville, Texas), Nicholas (Fouke), Hoelscher (Columbus, Texas), Reed (Little Rock), Savony (Kilgore, Texas), and Rebecca Forse (Pasadena, Texas). Forse, last year’s GSC West Division Co-Pitcher of the Year, had off-season surgery and didn’t see any action this season.