(March 6, 2021) Morrilton, Arkansas – The Bucks and Cardinals met again on Saturday at Dr. Ray Fullerton Field at Morrilton High School to continue their series. The Bucks would fall 10-5 and 12-2 to bring their season record to 8-7 on the year.

Game 1

Getting the game 1 start for the Bucks was Van Buren's Grant Shankle. He put the Cardinals down in order in the top of the 1^st. The Bucks scored the first run of day. Cole Clark (Clarksville, AR) reached on an error and advanced to 2^nd on a pass ball to setup Dan Taylor's (Rogers, AR) 2 out double, scoring Clark. But, the Bucks would get back-to-back walks and leave the bases loaded on a strikeout.

Once again, Shankle put the Cards down in order, and the Bucks plated 2 more runs. After a walk, advancing on a passed ball, and a hit-by-pitch, Chase Webb (El Dorado, AR) singled and scored Eli Garrison (North Little Rock, AR). In the next at-bat, Clark would ground into the double play, but Mason Reynolds (Fort Worth, TX) would score. Bucks led 3-0 after 2.

Mineral Area would respond and score 2 runs of their own in the top of the 3^rd and held the Bucks scoreless. Shankle would throw up another zero in the top of the 4^th and the Bucks offense picked up another run in the bottom of the frame. With 1 out, Reynolds would walk and Webb would double to left field. Cole Clark picked up his second RBI of the day on a sacrifice fly to centerfield.

In the top of the 5^th, Shankle would load the bases and be chased after 2 outs. Brayden Ross (Charleston, AR) came on in relief. On the first pitch, Mineral Area took the lead on a grand slam to right field. The Cardinals added runs in the 6^th (1 run) and 7^th innings (2 runs). In the bottom of the 6^th, Reynolds would reach on another hit-by-pitch before he stole 2^nd and advanced to 3^rd on an error. He would be driven home on Chase Webb's sacrifice fly. The Bucks threatened in the bottom of the 7^th, but with bases loaded, a flyout to centerfield ended the game.

In the loss, Grant Shankle (2-1) threw 4.2 innings and gave up 6 runs on 4 hits while striking out 5 and walking 4. In relief, Brayden Ross threw 2.1 innings and gave up 4 runs on 5 hits and struck out 1.

Game 2

With Daegan Covington getting the start, the Cardinals plated a run in the top of the 1^st inning. But, the Bucks would fight back. From the left side, Cole Clark would go opposite field for his second home run of the season to tie it up at 1-1 after an inning. The lead was short lived as the Cardinals picked up another run in the 2^nd inning and held the Bucks scoreless. Mineral Area had a 2-1 lead after 2.

The Cardinals would score 4 runs in the 3^rd and 5 runs in the 4^th. During the 2 innings, Covington was chased in the 3^rd, and the Bucks would bring in their 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th pitchers of the game to stop the bleeding. The Cardinals plated another in the 5^th.

The Bucks would plate a run in the bottom of the 5th. Preston Lee (Maumelle, AR) would single to right field and advanced to 3^rd on pass balls. He would score on a double play ball hit by Dugan Jones Jr. (Rose Bud, AR). But, the Cardinals would win 12-2 in 5 innings.

In the loss, Covington (0-1) pitched 2.1 innings giving up 5 runs on 7 hits while striking out 3 and walking 2. Cason Brigham (Genoa, AR) pitched 2 innings in relief, giving up 1 run (unearned) on 1 hit and struck out 1 and walked 1.

#GOBUCKS