(March 12, 2023) Mena, Arkansas - This season has been anything but normal due to the weather. What was a scheduled Thursday and Saturday series with NOC-Enid turned into a Wednesday and Sunday series. Moving forward, it looks like the rest of the season may be the same. After a pair of losses to open up region play, the Bucks returned home to Union Bank Field to conclude the series with the Jets and looked to pick up a series split with a pair of wins.
Game One
Like Wednesday's games, this game started much of the same for the Bucks defensively. The Jets scored 7 combined runs in the first and second innings, except the Bucks offense came to play in the opening frames as well. After two innings, the score was 7-6. After a run on a double play in the first, the Bucks plated 5 runs in the second inning. Three of the runs came on a bases loaded double by Trevor Flake (North Little Rock, AR) with no outs. Next at-bat, Cooper White (Benton, AR) hit a 2-run shot over the right field fence to trail by a run after two innings.
The Bucks were then held scoreless for the next three innings, while the Jets added 4 runs to lead 11-6 midway through the sixth inning. The Bucks would cut into that lead with another big inning in the bottom of the sixth. With 2 outs, Ethan Perry (Benton, AR) hit a RBI single to left field. After a hit-by-pitch, Blake Hadsell (Keller, TX) hit line drive home run over the left field to score 3 more runs to trail 11-10 after six, but a scoreless seventh inning end the game. The Bucks fell 11-10 in seven innings.
Defensively, the Bucks walked 8 hitters and committed 5 errors in the contest. Trent Smith (Longview, TX) took the loss after 1.0 innings of work (0-2). Austin Rainey (Conway, AR) came on and pitched 3.2 innings in relief, giving up 5 runs (3 earned) on 4 hits. Ashton Perkins (Pearland, TX) pitched the final 2.2 innings, giving up 2 unearned runs on just 1 hit.
Game Two
Not wanting to get swept in the opening series of region play, the Bucks would have to battle and play from behind early. Trailing 3-0 midway through the first inning, the Bucks took the lead off the swing of Kolby Webb (Cabot, AR). The freshmen first basemen hit a grand slam over the left centerfield fence to give the Bucks a 4-3 lead after an inning. After a scoreless second inning, NOC-Enid tied the contest with a run in the top of the third inning.
The Bucks answered the next inning and scored 7 runs in the next four innings combined. In the fourth, Brett Justice (Jacksonville, AR) hit a 2-run shot over the left centerfield fence. The Jets added a run in the fifth before Blake Hadsell hit a RBI singled in the bottom of the frame. After a scoreless top of the sixth, the home team put up a crooked number in the bottom of the frame on a fielding error. Brayden Sites (Sheridan, AR) reached on an error after a bunt that plated a pair, and after a hit-by-pitch, Sites scored on a Kolby Webb fielder's choice. Enid hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh, but the Bucks answered in the bottom half on a pair of errors after a Jimmy Mathis (Grandview, TX) bunt.
After a scoreless eighth, the Jets added a run in the top of the nineth, but the Bucks closed out the game to get the win, 11-7. Starting pitcher Jack Henry Pettit (Brookland, AR) pitched 7.0 innings, giving up 6 runs on 10 hits, including 3 home runs. Petit (2-1) did strikeout 5 and walked a lone hitter in the contest. Freshmen relief pitcher Hunter Alexander (Bigelow, AR) pitched the final two frames, giving up an unearned run. He would strikeout a pair and walk 1 in the contest.
The Bucks now turn the page to this coming week, hosting Seminole State College on Tuesday afternoon. Then, the Bucks will play their second region series against Carl Albert State College. For the most up-to-date schedule, please visit www.bucksathletics.com and check our social media pages.
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