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Box Score 2 MONTICELLO, Ark. – No. 5 Southeastern came up with big plays when it needed them on Saturday afternoon to complete a sweep of Arkansas-Monticello, taking game one 3-2 efore picking up a 5-3 win in the finale in Monticello, Ark.
The wins lift the Savage Storm to 25-6 overall on the season and 10-2 in Great American Conference play following wins of 5-2 and 5-4 on Friday against UAM.
In the opener it was a big hit that helped push SE to the victory as
Whitney Hamilton connected on a two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning to put the Storm back in front 3-2 which would hold to be the final score.
It would hold thanks to a seventh inning effort by
Jacee Bennett who recovered form walking the leadoff hitter to strikeout the next two batters before coaxing the final batter to pop out back to her, completing the save.
Darrian Williams put Southeastern on the board in the third inning with an RBI single that plated
Rachel Jones for an early 1-0 lead.
The Cotton Blossoms, however, would capture the lead in the fifth on back-to-back RBI hits to go up 2-1.
Six different Storm hitters each collected a hit on the contest, with Hamilton driving in two runs and Williams adding the other RBI.
Mindy McElroy got the start and picked up her 10
th win of the season after tossing five innings and allowing two runs on six hits with four strikeouts.
Bennett would pick up the two inning save after allowing just two hits and striking out three.
In the finale, SE jumped ahead again, this time in the first inning when Williams scored on a throwing error by the catcher.
UAM responded to tie the game in the bottom of the first.
The Storm would then open its lead in the third, starting when Williams squeezed home
Jessica Simmons to go up 2-1.
That would extend two-batters later after back-to-back walks loaded the bases and
Courtney Riddle singled home Williams for a 3-1 lead.
Benett was the next batter and reached on a fielder's choice that scored a pinch-running
Shayna Milam for a 4-1 lead.
The final Storm run of the inning came on an RBI single by
Paige Priest that scored a pinch-running
Kelsey Overacker for a 5-1 lead.
The Blossoms tried to mount a rally with a solo homer in the fifth to cut the deficit to 5-2.
UAM would then load the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning, picking up an RBI single to trim the SE lead to 5-3.
Bennett would respond however and coax back-to-back foul outs from the Blossoms' three and four hole hitters to preserve the 5-3 lead.
She would then work through the seventh inning in just four batters to wrap up the complete game victory.
Bennett finished the contest with four strikeouts and allowed three runs, two of which were earned, despite allowing 13 hits over her seven innings of work.
At the plate, Williams and Riddle each posted two-hit outings, while five others collected a hit each.
Williams, Riddle, Bennett and Priest each had an RBI.
