(April 1, 2021) Mena, Arkansas – Coming off their first Region 2 series in school history and a loss on Tuesday, the Bucks played host to Redlands Community College out of El Reno, Oklahoma. After dropping game 1, 14-8, the Bucks battled back to win 7-3 in game 2. The split brings the Bucks record to 14-13 on the season and 3-3 in region play.

Game 1

Getting the start for the Bucks was Maddox Long (Morrilton, AR). He would give up 2 runs in the top of the 1^st inning, but the Bucks would battle back in the bottom half to tie the game. With 1 out, Cole Clark (Clarksville, AR) would get hit by a pitch before advancing to 3^rd on Wesley Featherston's (Hope, AR) double. Clark would score on a pass ball before Luke Rice (Scott, AR) would pick up a RBI on a ground out to the right side to tie the game at 2-2.

Long shutout the Cougars in the top of the 2^nd, and the Bucks took the lead in the bottom of the inning. Back from injury, Daegan Covington (Taylor, AR) would single and advance to 2^nd base on an error. Rylee Huie (Pottsville, AR) would reached on an error to score Covington. With 1 out, Huie would score on a wild pitch before Preston Lee (Maumelle, AR) would single. After Lee advanced on a passed ball, Mason Reynolds (Fort Worth, TX) would single to centerfield to plate Lee. Bucks led 5-2 after 2 innings.

Both teams went scoreless in the 3^rd inning before Redlands added 2 runs in the top of the 4^th. The Bucks went scoreless in the bottom half. The Bucks still lead 5-4. In the 5^th, Long would record an out and give up a run before being chased from the game. Cooper Perry (Avinger, TX) came in on relief to get out of the inning. With 1 out in the bottom half, Featherston doubled and Rice walked before Featherston advanced on a fielder's choice. With 2 outs and runners on the corners, Featherston scored on an error. Dan Taylor (Rogers, AR) would steal 3^rd before advance home on a throwing error by the Cougars' catcher. Bucks led 7-5 after 5 innings.

Both teams added a run in the 6^th inning. After Huie singled, he would advance to 3^rd on an error during the next play. Preston Lee would plate Huie on a hit to right field. But, both runners would be stranded as the Bucks went in order. Bucks lead 8-6 going into the final inning.

Perry would be chased in the top of the 7^th with a runner on first. The Bucks would use 3 pitchers in the inning as the Cougars plated 8 runs, 4 on a grand slam that gave the Cougars the lead. The Cougars added more runs on a 2-run homer to lead 14-8 going into the bottom of the inning.

The Bucks would go in order to end the game. Bucks fall 14-8.

Game 2

Grant Shankle (Van Buren, AR) would get the start on the bump and strikeout 2 and get a flyout to end the top of the inning. With 1 out in the bottom half, Cole Clark would single before Wesley Featherston walked. After a strikeout, Dan Taylor would hit a RBI single to plate Clark. Next at-bat, Eli Garrison (North Little Rock, AR) would pick up 2 RBIs on a double to centerfield. Daegan Covington then reached on an error to advance Garrison, but a flyout ended the inning.

Shankle would strand a runner in the top of the 2^nd, but the Bucks did as well. In the 3^rd, Shankle gave up a 2 out single, but a ground out to 1^st base ended the top half. With 1 out in the bottom half, Taylor singled, and Garrison was hit by a pitch, but a double play ended the inning. Bucks lead 3-0.

After a scoreless 4^th inning, the Cougars added 3 runs to tie the game at 3-3. In the bottom half, Wesley Featherston singled and advanced to 2nd on a throwing error. Next at-bat, Luke Rice hit his 5^th homer of the season, picking up 2 RBIs. Dan Taylor then doubled to left centerfield, but a double play ended the inning. Bucks led 5-3 after 5.

After a scoreless 6^th inning, Drake Fontenot (Bossier City, LA) came on to pitch to start the 7^th inning. With 1 out and bases loaded, he got a double play ball to end the Cougars threat. But, the Bucks would also go in order to end the inning.

In the top of the 8^th, Fontenot would strike out the side. After a walk and an out in the bottom half, Preston Lee hit a 2-run bomb over the left centerfield fence to extend the Bucks lead to 7-3 after 8 innings.

In the top of the 9^th, Fontenot recorded his 4^th strikeout in a row, a pop up, and another strikeout to end the game. Bucks win 7-3.

In the win, Grant Shankle (4-2) pitched 6 innings in the start, giving up 3 runs (0 earned) on 5 hits while striking out 7 and walking 3. In relief, Drake Fontenot struck out 7 and walked 1 in 3 innings on the mound.

The Bucks and Cougars play again on Saturday at Redlands CC in El Reno, Oklahoma. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm.

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