MONTICELLO, Ark. – Despite quality pitching and hitting in game two, the Ouachita Tigers softball team dropped the first two games of a four game series with Arkansas-Monticello. The Tigers fell in game one by a final of 8-0 and 4-2 in game two.

Tigers' starter Marissa Butler held the Blossoms offense in check through the first three innings of play in game one.  Butler retired the first eight batters she faced through 2.2 innings and finished the third inning without allowing a hit.

The Tigers managed only one hit in game one, a two-out single by Kelly Powell in the top of the third inning. Arkansas-Monticello closed out the fourth inning with a three-run homer to break the scoreless tie. They added five more runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning to get the 8-0 win.

Kelsey O'Brien got the start in game two and pitched effectively for six innings. O'Brien scattered six hits and allowed only one earned run (three unearned) while striking out six batters. Offensively, the Tigers bats came alive, totaling 10 hits in game two.

Kelly Powell got the Tigers on the board with a two-out single in the top of the second to tie the game 1-1. Delaney Bono scored the run for Ouachita. After falling behind 4-1, the Tigers scored their second run in the top of the sixth on a two-out single to center by Halley Ryburn. Ryburn's second hit of the game scored Suzie Gresham to make it a 4-2 game.

UAM would hold the Tigers scoreless in the seventh to get the 4-2 win. Alex Jennings and Sarah Johnson joined Ryburn with multiple hits in game two for the Tigers.

The two teams finish the series with a doubleheader beginning tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.