(March 26, 2021) Altus, Oklahoma – The Rich Mountain Bucks headed to Western Oklahoma State College on Thursday afternoon for their first Region 2 weekend series of the season. Coming off 3 straight wins, the Bucks looked to keep their winning streak alive. The Bucks would increase their season record to 12-9 and 1-0 in region play with a 15-10 win.
The visiting Bucks stepped to the plate to begin the game, but the Pioneers would strikeout the side. Getting the start on the bump was Morrilton's Maddox Long. He would give up a 1 out double that would lead to a Pioneer run, but that is all they could get. Bucks trailed 1-0 after an inning.
After a scoreless 2nd inning, the Bucks would get things going in the 3rd. Isaac Price (Siloam Springs, AR) drew a lead off walk to start the inning. Two hitters later, Mason Reynolds (Fort Worth, TX) would hit his first home run of the season to put the Bucks ahead 2-1 after the top of the frame. The lead was short lived as the Pioneers capitalized on a few Bucks' mistakes. After 3 innings, the game was tied at 2-2.
The Bucks did respond with a big 4th inning. With 1 out, Rylee Huie (Pottsville, AR) hit a solo bomb (2nd of season) to put the Bucks back ahead. With 2 outs in the inning, Price doubled to centerfield before Tristan Doucet (Lake Arthur, LA) hit his first homer of the season to increase the lead. Next at-bat, Reynolds singled and then stole 2nd base before being driven home by Clarksville's Cole Clark. The Bucks would lead 6-2 after 4, as Maddox Long retired the Pioneers in order to end the inning.
The Bucks' offense was held in check in the top of the 5th, and the Pioneers were able to plate 4 runs of their own to tie the game at 6-6 after 5 innings. However, the Bucks responded with a bigger half inning of their own. Price once again drew a leadoff walk. Barrett Sparks (North Little Rock, AR) came on as a pinch runner and advance to 2nd on a passed ball. With 1 out, Mason Reynolds continued his day with a single to right field to score Sparks. An error and hit-by-pitch put runners on 1st and 2nd. Jackson Baker (Sherwood, AR) pinch ran for Clark. Wesley Featherston (Hope, AR) loaded the bases before Reynolds score on a hit-by-pitch on Luke Rice (Scott, AR). Another walk by Dan Taylor (Rogers, AR) plated Baker. Next at-bat, Rylee Huie picked up his 2nd RBI of the day on a single to right field to score Featherston. To end the Bucks' attack in the inning, Andrew Almendarez (Tomball, TX) pinch hit and came through with a 2 RBI single to right field, plating Rice and Taylor. Maddox Long once again kept the Pioneers in check, as the Bucks held a 12-6 lead going into the 7th inning.
In the top of the 7th, Reynolds reach for the 4th time of the game before Dugan Jones, Jr. (Rose Bud, AR) was hit by a pitch to put runners on 1st and 2nd. With 2 outs, Dan Taylor would hit a 3-run homer (3rd of the season) to increase the lead to 15-6 midway through the 7th. In the bottom half, Drake Fontenot (Bossier City, LA) made his first appearance of the season after being injured for the first half of the season. He would give up 4 runs, majority on a 3-run homer in the bottom half. But, the Bucks would hang on and win their Region 2 opener.
In the win, Maddox Long (5-1) would go 6 innings, giving up 6 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits and struck out 7 while walking a pair.
#GOBUCKS