(April 18, 2021) Enid, Oklahoma – After sweeping NOC-Enid on Thursday at Union Bank Field, including a walk-off win in game 2, the Bucks looked to pick up a Region 2 series win at David Allen Park on Sunday afternoon. The Bucks come into today's doubleheader with a 21-15 overall record and 9-5 in Region 2.
Game 1
The Bucks looked to continue their success in game 3 of the series against the Jets. With 2 outs in the top of the 1st, Daegan Covington (Taylor, AR) reached on an error. Next at-bat, Luke Rice (Scott, AR) doubled to centerfield to plate Covington to give the Bucks a 1-0 lead. In the bottom half, Randy Little Jr. got the start on the bump. After giving up a leadoff double, he was able to get a strikeout and a pop up before giving up a 2-out walk, but he would get a groundout to end the inning.
In the top of the 2nd, Eli Garrison (North Little Rock, AR) reached on a leadoff walk before Wesley Featherston (Hope, AR) doubled to right field to put runners on 2nd and 3rd. After a strikeout, Preston Lee (Maumelle, AR) plated Garrison on a sac fly to left field. Featherston advanced to 3rd before scoring on an error to make it 3-0 after 2 innings.
After a scoreless bottom half of the 2nd, the Bucks would get runners on 2nd and 3rd before striking out 3 times to end the top of the 3rd. With 1 out, Little gave up back-to-back singles to start the bottom half before getting a strikeout. After a 2-out walk, he would give up a single to plate an Enid run. After 3 innings, the Bucks led 3-1.
The Bucks went scoreless again in the 4th before Little surrendered 2 runs, and Enid tied the game at 3-3. In the 4th, the Bucks regained the lead. With 1 out, Luke Rice hit a solo homer to centerfield to give the Bucks a 4-3 lead, but it was short lived. Cooper Perry (Avinger, TX) entered the game to start the 5th inning on the mound. He would give up a solo homer to tie the game at 4-4 after 5 innings.
The Bucks got the bases loaded in the 6th but were unable to plate any runners. Perry gave up a walk and a double before being chased from the game. Brayden Ross (Charleston, AR) entered the game with runners on 2nd and 3rd. After giving up a single that scored a run, the Jets hit a 3-run homer to take an 8-4 lead after 6 innings. The Bucks went in order in the 7th to fall 8-4 in game 3 of the series.
In the loss, Cooper Perry (1-1) pitched 1.1 innings giving up 3 runs on 3 hits and walking 1. In the start, Randy Little Jr. pitched 3.2 innings, giving up 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits and had 4 strikeouts and 4 walks. Brayden Ross pitched 1 inning, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits and walked 1.
Game 2
The Bucks looked for a fast start in the series finale. With 1 out, Cole Clark (Clarksville, AR) and Dan Taylor (Rogers, AR) hit back-to-back singles before Luke Rice walked to load the bases. Wesley Featherston hit a sac fly to centerfield, scoring Clark. The Bucks led 1-0 midway through the 1st inning. Getting the start on the hill, James McCormick (Benton, AR) gave up a leadoff double before picking the runner off at 2nd. Then, he got a couple pop outs to end the inning.
In the 2nd, the Bucks got a walk and single to start the inning, but both runners would be stranded. McCormick had a 1, 2, 3 bottom half to keep the Bucks lead at 1-0. The Bucks went scoreless again in the top of the 3rd before Enid plated a run on a Bucks error. After 3, the game was tied at 1-1.
After a 1, 2, 3 inning for the Bucks, McCormick gave up a single before picking off the Jets runner at 1st base. Back-to-back strikeouts ended the 4th inning. In the 5th, the Bucks put up a big inning. A single, walk, and a 1 out hit-by-pitch, Wesley Featherston touched all bases with a grand slam to left field to give the Bucks a 5-1 lead. In the bottom half, McCormick gave up a leadoff solo homer before getting a double play. A Bucks error and a Jets double plated another run, but the Bucks held a 5-3 lead after 5 innings.
Both teams went down in order in the 6th inning. In the 7th, the Bucks loaded the bases again. Isaac Price (Siloam Springs, AR) hit into a fielder's choice to score Luke Rice. In the bottom half, the Jets got the run back. McCormick was chased from the game after a leadoff double. Daegan Covington came in on relief. The Bucks held onto their lead, 6-4.
Both teams once again went scoreless in the 8th heading into the final inning of the game. Dan Taylor hit a walk off bomb to left field to lead off the inning add an insurance run for the Bucks heading into the final 3 outs of the game. Covington issued a 1 out walk, but he got a couple of fly outs to end the game. Bucks win 7-4.
In the win, James McCormick (3-4) pitched 6 innings, giving up 4 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits while striking out 7. Picking up the 3-inning save, Daegan Covington gave no runs on 2 hits. He would strikeout 1 and walk 4.
By picking up the series win, the Bucks move to 22-16 on the season and 10-6 in region play.
The Bucks travel to Wilburton, Oklahoma on Tuesday afternoon for a 6 pm first pitch against Eastern Oklahoma State College.
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