Softball Suns Stun No. 7 UAM Twice

Arkansas Tech upset the nationally seventh-ranked Arkansas-Monticello Cotton Blossoms in game one of a four-game softball series at Monticello on Saturday afternoon. Then the Golden Suns turned around and did it again.

Shanda Jimeson stole home in the top of the 10th inning in game one as the Golden Suns posted a 5-4 victory.

Arkansas Tech pitcher Alex Doyle owned game two by pitching a six-hit shutout to lead the Suns to a 5-0 win.

Arkansas Tech had lost six of its last nine games before Saturday, while Arkansas-Monticello came into the twin bill having won 21 of its last 22 games.

The Blossoms reached an NCAA Division II Super Regional last season and they are the defending Gulf South Conference West Division champions.

The Golden Suns (14-11 overall, 5-1 GSC) and the Cotton Blossoms (26-4, 7-3) are scheduled to play another doubleheader in Monticello beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Shelby Jo Fenter went 3-for-5 with two runs batted in for the Suns in the opener.

Fenter also pitched all 10 innings, and she retired UAM in order in the bottom of the 10th to preserve the win. Fenter improved to 5-4 in the circle this season.

Alicia Zack was 3-for-4 with a run scored and Jimeson was 2-for-4 with two runs scored for Arkansas Tech in game one. Amy Kilpatrick and Natalie Magie drove in one run apiece.

Hayley Hudson kept momentum in the Golden Suns’ corner by hittng a two-run home run in the top of the first inning in game two.

Another Arkansas Tech two-run shot — this one off Fenter’s bat in the top of the fifth — gave the Suns a 4-0 edge.

Hudson scored on a wild pitch one inning later to set what proved to be the final margin.

Meanwhile, Doyle struck out six UAM batters and walked just one while shutting out the top offensive team in the GSC.

Arkansas-Monticello stranded eight runners on base, but only three of them reached scoring position and only one advanced as far as third base.

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