(April 8, 2021) Tonkawa, Oklahoma – Coming off their first Region 2 series win of the season, the Bucks looked to continue their recent success against the 15^th ranked NOC – Tonkawa Mavericks. The Bucks and Mavs would split the first two games of the series. The Bucks record goes to 17-14 on the season and 6-4 in region play.  

Game 1

The Bucks would go in order in the top of the 1^st inning. Maddox Long (Morrilton, AR) got the start on the mound. A lead off hit-by-pitch and a 1 out error allowed Tonkawa to score a run in the bottom half to lead 1-0. After a scoreless 2^nd inning, Rylee Huie (Pottsville, AR) would lead off the 3^rd with a double to left field. Next at-bat, Isaac Price (Siloam Springs, AR) would single to plate Huie. After a walk, the Bucks went in order, but the game was tied at 1-1. Tonkawa responded with a 3 run bottom half to regain their lead, 3-1 after 3.

The Bucks took the lead in the top of the 4^th. After a hit-by-pitch and single, Daegan Covington (Taylor, AR) hit into a fielder choice to plate Luke Rice (Scott, AR). Back-to-back walks loaded the bases for Preston Lee (Maumelle). Lee's sacrifice fly would plate Huie. Another walk and then a hit-by-pitch plated Huie to give the Bucks the 4-3 lead midway through the 4^th. The Mavericks regain the lead in the bottom half and then some. Tonkawa plated 7 runs before Long was chased from the game. Cooper Perry (Avinger, TX) came on with 2 outs and stranded a runner at 2^nd to end the inning. Tonkawa led 10-4.

The Bucks would strand a runner in the 5^th, and the Mavericks plated another run to extend their lead to 11-4 after 5. The Bucks would again strand a runner in the 6^th before the Mavericks added 3 more runs heading into the final inning.

The Bucks went in order to end the game. Mavericks win 13-4.

In the loss, Maddox Long (4-2) pitched 3.2 innings, giving up 10 runs (5 earned) on 10 hits. He struck out 4 and walked 2. In relief, Cooper Perry pitched 2.1 innings, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits and struck out 4. 

Game 2

To start off the 1^st, Cole Clark (Clarksville, AR) walked with 1 out. Two hitters later, Luke Rice would double to score Clark. With 2 outs and next at-bat, Dan Taylor (Rogers, AR) would hit a 2-run homer to right field to give the Bucks a 3-0 lead midway through the 1^st inning. In the bottom half, Grant Shankle (Van Buren, AR) got the start on the bump. He would give up a solo shot, but the Bucks would lead 3-1 after an inning.

In the top of the 2^nd, a walk, a single, and hit-by-pitch loaded the bases with 1 out. Cole Clark picked up a RBI on a ground out to 1^st base to plate Eli Garrison (North Little Rock, AR). Another ground out ended the inning as the Bucks led 4-1 midway through 2 innings. In the bottom half, the Mavericks got runners on the corners, but Shankle got a pop up to end the inning. Bucks lead 4-1.

Dan Taylor would reach on a hit-by-pitch with 1 out to get things going in the 3rd. Two hitters later, Eli Garrison singled with 2 outs to put runners on 1^st and 2^nd to bring up Isaac Price. Isaac would single to score Taylor. After a walk, Garrison would score on another walk by Mason Reynolds (Fort Worth, TX). Cole Clark picked up his 2^nd RBI of the game on a walk in the next at-bat. Daegan Covington would then plate a run and reach on an error. A strikeout left the bases loaded, but the Bucks picked up 4 more runs to lead 8-1. In the bottom half, Shankle would give up a lead off single, but with 1 out, he would pick off the Mavs runner. Grant did give up another single, but a ground out ended the inning with the Bucks leading 8-1.

The Bucks would go in order in the top of the 4^th inning before the NOC-Tonkawa bats came alive. The Mavs plated 3 runs in the bottom half to cut the lead to 8-4 after 4 innings. However, the Bucks were able to get a run back in the top of the 5^th. With 1 out, Mason Reynolds reached on an error and advanced to 2^nd base before Cole Clark singled to score Reynolds. The Bucks led 9-4 midway through the inning, but Shankle would surrender a run in the bottom half. Bucks still lead 9-5.

In the 6^th, the Bucks bats were silenced. Drake Fontenot (Bossier City, LA) came on in relief of Shankle. He would sit down the Mavs in order to end the 6^th. In the top of the 7^th, Isaac Price led off with a double to left field. With 1 out, a walk and hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for the Bucks. Two batters later, Luke Rice was hit by a pitch and plated Price. Next at-bat, Dan Taylor hit a 2-out 2 RBI single to left field to increase the lead to 12-5. Fontenot once again threw a 1, 2, 3 innings to retire the Mavericks in the bottom of the 7^th.

In the top of the 8^th, the Bucks offense looked to add some insurance runs. Eli Garrison led off with a double before Isaac Price traded places with him for his second double and RBI of the game. The Bucks went in order after that. In the bottom half, Fontenot gave up a run with 2 outs after a leadoff double. Bucks still lead 13-6.

In the top of the final inning, Luke Rice singled with 1 out followed by a Dan Taylor double to put runners on 2^nd and 3^rd. After a strikeout, Rice would score on a wild pitch in the next at-bat that ended the inning. Midway through the 9^th, the Bucks had a 14-6 lead with 3 outs to end the game.

The Mavericks wouldn't go down easy after a leadoff triple. The Mavs would plate a run then load the bases before Fontenot would get a double play ball to 3^rd base for 2 outs, but another run did score on the play. He would retire the next batter to end the game. Bucks win 14-8.

In the win, Grant Shankle (5-2) threw 5.0 innings, giving up 5 runs on 13 hits. He would also strikeout 3 in the outing.  

The Bucks play again on Saturday at Union Bank Field to wrap up the series with NOC – Tonkawa.

#GOBUCKS