March 23, 2007

Game 1 Stats | Game 2 Stats

MONTICELLO, Ark.--Sophomore pitcher Nikki Dunn (Southaven, Miss./Southaven HS) threw her fourth shutout of the season in game one as the Christian Brothers University Lady Bucs split a Gulf South Conference doubleheader Friday afternoon at Arkansas-Monticello.

Dunn allowed just three baserunners, on a double and a pair of singles, and struck out eight in a 1-0 victory in the first game. UAM took the second game 4-1.

While Dunn was keeping the Cotton Blossoms (27-12, 6-4 GSC) at bay, the Lady Bucs (9-9, 2-4) scored the game's only run in the fifth inning. Michelle Paul (Arlington, Texas/Mansfield Summit HS) led the inning off with a double to left. She moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Julie Ristich (Memphis, Tenn./White Station HS) single to center. Dunn retired the final 10 batters, including all nine after CBU scored, to pick up the win. Dunn also went 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of singles.

In the second game it was UAM pitcher Alison North (11-2) who tossed the three-hitter, and the Cotton Blossoms scored two runs in the fourth and fifth innings to provide the run support she needed. In the fourth, UAM started the inning with four straight hits, scoring two runs. In the fifth, the Cotton Blossoms had a one-out rally with a double and a triple to score, and a two-out single finished the scoring.

CBU rallied for a two-out run in the seventh, but they left two runners on. With two outs, Meagan Shackleford (Southaven, Miss./Southaven HS) reached on an error. Paul and Sammy Maness (Gallatin, Tenn./Gallatin HS) hit back-to-back singles, with Shackleford scoring on Maness' single, but a strikeout ended the Lady Bucs' hopes.

Dunn (6-5) took the loss for CBU, allowing two runs on six hits in four innings.

The Lady Bucs and Cotton Blossoms will meet again Sunday afternoon, at CBU's Bland Field, for another GSC doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.