(February 9, 2024) Mena, Arkansas - Coming off a series with Northeast Texas and a mid-week contest against Seminole State, the Bucks returned to Union Bank Field on Friday afternoon to take on ASU Three Rivers. The Bucks and Eagles were supposed to play a 3-game series this weekend, but due to weather, a doubleheader was played with Saturday's single game was postponed due to potential weather in Malvern.
Game One
Ethan Diaz (Minneola, FL) got the start for the Bucks on the mound. The game was scoreless in the first inning, but ASUTR plated 3-runs in the top of the second. Two of the runs were on a 2-run homer to left field. Trailing heading into the bottom half, the Bucks scratched across a run on a 2-out double by Trevor Flake (North Little Rock, AR). Diaz pitched a scoreless third and fourth inning, but the Bucks took their first lead of the day in the bottom of the fourth inning.
With 2 outs and runners on first and second, Caden Brown (Van Buren, AR) doubled down the left field line to plate a run. Next at-bat, Diego Archila (Baton Rouge, LA) hit a 2-RBI single to make the score 4-3 after four innings. Diaz was pulled from the game in the fifth, lasting 4.1 innings, but the Bucks held the Eagles scoreless and extended their lead in the bottom of the fifth on a Flake sacrifice fly. ASUTR took a lead in the top of the sixth with another 3-run inning, but the Bucks tied the game in the bottom of the sixth at 6-6 when Caleb Bryant (North Little Rock, AR) reached on an error that plated a run.
With the game tied, ASUTR played small ball and found the timely hit to take the lead 7-6, and the Bucks were unable to answer in the bottom half and fell 7-6 in 7 innings. Trapper Golden (Hughes Springs, TX) (0-2) took the loss on the day, pitching 1.2 innings.
Game Two
Looking to put it all together, the Bucks changed into their new camo uniforms for the second game of the doubleheader with Clint Lafferty (Seguin, TX) on the mound. The game was all Lafferty on the bump. Lafferty went the distance, pitching 7.0 innings. The freshmen gave up 3 runs on 7 hits, while striking out 5 and walking a pair in the outing.
The Bucks found the offense and were aggressive on the base paths. The scoring started in the bottom of the first on a Caleb Bryant's 1 out RBI single. The Bucks trailed mid-way through the second inning, but put up a crooked number in the bottom of the frame. After a lead off double, Ian Smith (Bismarck, AR) hit a RBI single to left field. Two hitters later and 2 outs, Diego Archila hit a RBI double before scoring on a Brett Justice (Jacksonville, AR) RBI single to centerfield.
With some run support, Lafferty shutdown ASUTR in the top of the third, and the Bucks plated 6 runs in the bottom of the frame. With 1 out and the bases loaded, back-to-back-to-back walks plated 3 runs before Smith scored on passed ball. After another walk, Trace Watkins (Sheridan, AR) hit a sac fly to right field to complete the scoring in the inning. The Bucks held a 10-2 lead through the fourth inning before ASUTR scratched across a run in the fifth. In the bottom of the frame, the Bucks matched the run with one of their own on a Trevor Flake RBI single to left field with 2 outs.
Lafferty (1-1) shut the door in both the sixth and seventh innings to seal the 11-3 win. The Bucks scored 11 runs on 10 hits in the contest, while also stealing 6 bases in the game.
The men will now have the weekend off before going to Carl Albert State College on Monday, February 12th. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm at Mark Pollard Park in Poteau, OK.
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