(May 12, 2022) Enid, Oklahoma - The #9 Bucks come into the Plains District Tournament as the #1 seed after a 27-5 region record this season. The Bucks would face off against the #8 seed in the tournament, South Arkansas. South Arkansas made the tournament in their first season in school history. The Bucks swept the Stars earlier in the season.
Drake Fontenot (Bossier City, LA) got the start on the mound and lasted 6.0 innings, giving up 3 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits. He would strike out 7, but he would walk 4 in the outing. The Second Team All-Region Sophomore got the no decision in the start.
The Bucks got the offense going in the bottom of the first inning. A pair of 1-out walks brough All-Region first basemen Luke Rice (Scott, AR) to the plate, and he would hit a RBI double to left field. Next at-bat, Wesley Featherston (Hope, AR) would ground out to the right side to make it 2-0 in favor of the Bucks. South Arkansas answered in the top of the second with a run to make it 2-1 and held the Bucks scoreless.
After a scoreless top of the third, the Bucks added to their lead with a 3-run bottom half. A hit-by-pitch and walk put runners on for Luke Rice. He would ground into the fielder's choice that allowed Cole Clark (Clarksville, AR) to score on an error. After 2 outs, another hit-by-pitch put two runners on for Trace Watkins (Sheridan, AR). The freshmen would hit a 2-RBI double to make it 5-1 after three innings.
South Arkansas added a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning to cut the lead to 2-run, but the Bucks got 1 of the runs back in the bottom of the fifth inning. Wesley Featherston hit a solo home run to make it 6-3. After a scoreless sixth, Cooper Perry (Avinger, TX) came in to pitch in the seventh and pitched a scoreless inning.
South Arkansas would tie the game in the top of the eighth to make it 6-6. Daegan Covington (Taylor, AR) entered the game to pitch in the inning. The Bucks couldn't produce a run in the bottom of the eighth or ninth inning to send it into extras. After a scoreless top of the tenth inning, the Bucks would put two runners on with 2 outs and pinch hit Cooper White (Benton, AR). The freshmen would hit his second walk-off home run of the season to give the Bucks the 9-6 win in 10 innings.
Daegan Covington (2-0) picked up his second win of the season in 2.1 innings of work. He would give up no runs on 2 hits, while striking out 3.
The Bucks advance to the second round this evening against Murray State. First pitch is scheduled for 7 pm at David Allen Memorial Ballpark.
#GOBUCKS