March 24, 2008

Game 1 Stats | Game 2 Stats

MEMPHIS--The Christian Brothers University Lady Bucs split a Gulf South Conference doubleheader with Arkansas-Monticello Monday afternoon, winning the first game 1-0 but dropping the nightcap 5-3.

In the opener, the Lady Bucs (12-12, 1-7 GSC) rode the arm of pitcher Nikki Dunn (Southaven, Miss./Southaven HS), who threw her third shutout of the season, scattering eight hits and a walk while striking out nine.

The Lady Bucs scored their only run in the third inning. Michelle Paul (Mansfield, Texas/Summit HS) led off the inning with a single, and Brittney Plowman (Paris, Tenn./Henry County HS) pinch-ran for her. Lauren Hearn (Millington, Tenn./Millington HS) sacrificed Plowman to second, and she scored on a double by Victoria Mathews (Arlington, Texas/Mansfield Timberview HS).

From there, the Lady Bucs held on as Dunn finished the shutout despite allowing at least one baserunner in every inning. In all, she stranded nine Cotton Blossoms on the bases. Paul went 2-for-2 at the plate to carry the Lady Bucs' offense.

In game two, UAM (10-16, 4-2) jumped out to a 5-0 lead after five and held off the Lady Bucs' rally in the final two innings. UAM scored first in the opening inning as Meredith Heckel singled and scored on a one-out Linsdey Randall sacrifice fly.

The Lady Bucs ran into trouble in the fourth. With one out, Kayla Temple and Lauren Brooks singled, then a two-run Heather Greer double made it 3-0. An inning later, UAM's Becca Tipton led off with a double off the fence in center, then Randall cleared it with a two-run homer on the next pitch to give UAM a commanding 5-0 edge.

But the Lady Bucs weren't through themselves. Kathleen Nelson (Bartlett, Tenn./Bolton HS) reached on an error to lead off the sixth, and she scored on a towering two-run homer by Casey King (Flower Mound, Texas/Flower Mound HS). Hearn hit her first career homer with two out in the seventh, but the Lady Bucs couldn't score again.

Hearn finished 2-for-3 in the second game.

The Lady Bucs' doubleheader with Millsaps originally scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed to April. CBU will return to Bland Field Wednesday afternoon at 2 p.m. when they take on Henderson State in a GSC doubleheader.