Alva Review-Courier -

MONTICELLO, Ark. – The No. 14-ranked Southern Arkansas softball team completed their season series against rival Arkansas-Monticello on Wednesday afternoon at Blossom Field, and SAU and UAM split the twin-bill in a pair of low-scoring affairs. Wednesday's split also forced a split in the four-game season series.

TEAM RECORDS

#14 Southern Arkansas Lady Muleriders (36-12, 26-10 GAC)

Arkansas-Monticello Cotton Blossoms (31-15, 24-10 GAC)

PITCHING DECISIONS – Game 1

W – Kaylee Garner (17-1)

L – Kendra Coleman (18-5)

S – NONE

HOW IT HAPPENED – Game 1

The game was a scoreless tie until the top of the third inning when Jill Roye hit a two-out solo homerun out to right-centerfield off of UAM starter, Kendra Coleman.

Two innings later in the fifth, Roye came up again with two outs in the inning and she drove in her second run of the game on a single up the middle to score pinch-runner Sydney Johnson from second base.

IN THE CIRCLE – Game 1

Senior right-hander Kaylee Garner got the start and pitched exceptionally well again against the Cotton Blossoms as she surrendered just three hits (all singles) and no runs en route to her fifth shutout of the year

In her 7.0 innings of work, Garner struck out five.

The first time Garner faced the Cotton Blossoms this season, she carried a perfect game up to the last out before allowing a single. Garner ended that game with seven strikeouts.

In her two starts against UAM, Garner is 2-0 with a pair of shutouts and 12 strikeouts in 12.0 innings of work. Additionally, she has allowed just four hits to the Cotton Blossoms.

AT THE PLATE – Game 1

The Lady Muleriders were limited to just four hits and Jill Roye had all but one of those as she went 3-for-3 in the game with a home run and two RBIs.

Roye's two RBIs accounted for all of SAU's runs

PITCHING DECISIONS – Game 2

W – Kaylee Freeman (8-7)

L – Victoria Taylor (15-6)

S – NONE

HOW IT HAPPENED – Game 2

UAM scored single runs in the first and second innings to take an early 2-0 lead. The run in the first was unearned off of SAU starter Victoria Taylor and the second run came with two outs in the second inning.

The Lady Muleriders cut their deficit in half, however in the next half inning as Brooke Goad ripped a double down the right field line, scoring Rachel Miller, who led off the inning with a bunt single.

SAU later threatened to knot the game at 2-all in the top of the sixth as they loaded the bases with one out, but UAM starter Kaylee Freeman pitched out of the jam unscathed to preserve the lead and eventual one-run victory

IN THE CIRCLE – Game 2

Victoria Taylor got the start, but only recorded one out before being lifted for reliever Peyton Jenkins. Prior to leaving the start, Taylor had given up an unearned run, struck out one and walked three

Jenkins, who entered with the bases loaded in the first with one out, got out of the inning without any further damage and pitched the next two innings. Jenkins gave up an earned run in the second inning and did record a strikeout as well

Jill Roye entered the circle in the bottom of the fourth and tossed the final three innings of the game. Roye did not allow a run and scattered a pair of hits while notching a strikeout

AT THE PLATE – Game 2

The Lady Muleriders and Cotton Blossoms matched hit totals with six each

Rachel Miller had multiple hits, going 2-for-3 while Maddie Dow, Marina Duran, Brooke Goad, and Marina Duran all had one hit in the game

Goad hit her 15th double of the season, accounting for the lone extra-base hit on either side

ON DECK

The Lady Muleriders will return home for their final eight games of their regular season beginning this weekend with a pivotal four-game series against Arkansas Tech. First-pitch of the first game is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Friday, April 21.