(February 18, 2023) Mena, Arkansas - In what felt like nearly a month between games, UARM Baseball finally returned to the diamond at home this afternoon at Union Bank Field at McMillan Park. The last time that Bucks saw game action was on February 9th at home for a single 9-inning contest with Philander Smith. The Bucks would square off in a doubleheader with future Region II foe, ASU Mountain Home. ASUMH is a first year program.

Game One

The Bucks had to play from behind right out of the gate. The Trailblazers would score 3 runs in the opening frame to take an early lead. The Bucks fought back in the bottom half with a run on a sac fly by Casey Shipley (Prairie Grove, AR) and scored again in the bottom of the third inning on a Shipley solo home run over Vivian Street behind the left field fence. ASUMH produced another run in the top of the fourth, before the Bucks could answer with a pair of runs to tie the contest at 4-4. Trevor Flake (North Little Rock, AR) hit a 1-out RBI double to left field before Luke Crumpler (Bentonville, AR) traded places with him with a RBI double of his own to knot the game at 4 a piece. 

The Trailblazers once again took the lead in the fifth inning with a run before the Bucks tied the contest in the bottom of the sixth. Once again, Flake delivered on a RBI single to score Brett Justice (Jacksonville, AR). In the top of the seventh inning, the Trailblazers appeared to take a 2-run lead on a 2-RBI double, but the Bucks appealled that the runner didn't touch first base, and the runner was called out, nulifying both runs. The game would go into extra innings. In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Trailblazers intentionally walked Shipley to load the bases for Trenton Smith (Longview, TX). Smith delivered the game winning run on a RBI single to left field to give the Bucks a 6-5 win. 

Deuce Yaksick (Frisco, TX) made his second start on the mound for the Bucks. The right-hander lasted 5.0 innings, giving up 5 runs (4 earned) on 6 hits. He would strikeout 6 and walk a pair in the no decision. The Bucks used three other pitchers in the game: Aden Almeida (Rogers, AR), Jacob Pannell (Fayetteville, AR), and Jackson Wilson (Palenstine, AR). Wilson (1-0) got the win, facing only one hitter in 0.1 innings of work. 

Game Two

Much like Game One, Game Two was a back and forth affair that saw the scoring being in the second inning with ASUMH taking a 1-0 lead. The Bucks would answer in the bottom of the second inning with a pair of runs of their own. With 2 outs and runners on, Trevor Flake delivered on a 2-RBI double to give the Bucks a 2-1 lead that was short lived. ASUMH took the lead in the top of the third before the Bucks tied the game at 3 a piece on a Blake Ritter (Ashdown, AR) RBI single to right field. Both teams would score a run in the fourth inning to keep the game tied. The Bucks run came off the bat of Cooper White (Benton, AR). The sophomore delivered on a RBI single to right field. 

The Trailblazers broke the tie in the top of the fifth with a pair of runs before the Bucks took the lead for good with a big bottom half. After a lead off walk, Blake Ritter delivered a 2-run blast over left field. Three hitters later, Jimmy Mathis (Grandview, TX) reached on an error that score Hayden Koller (Texarkana, TX). An inning later, the Bucks added an insurance run on a bases loaded hit-by-pitch for Brett Justice to give the Bucks the 8-6 lead and win in seven innings.

Kirk Martinson (Shreveport, LA) got his first start of the season, lasting 3.2 innings. The freshmen gave up 4 runs (3 earned) on 8 hits, while striking out 8. Austin Rainey (Conway, AR) come on in relief and pitched 1.1 innings. Rainey (1-0) would get the win, giving up 2 unearned runs in the outing. Trenton Smith pulled double duty on the day and pitched the final 2.0 innings for the Bucks, giving up only a pair of hits to the Trailblazers.

The Bucks will be back in action for the first road contest on Tuesday, February 21st, at Eastern Oklahoma State College. First pitch with the Mountaineers is scheduled for 1 pm in Wilburton. 

DefendTheMountain