(March 30, 2024) Mena, Arkansas - After an extra innings win on Thursday in Camden, the Bucks returned home this afternoon against SAU Tech to conclude the region series. The Bucks enter the day at 9-3 in region play, while SAU Tech was 6-7. This weekend concludes the first round of region series. 

Game One

It was all SAU Tech for the first three plus innings. The Rockets held a 3-0 lead on a pair of solo home runs midway through the third. The Bucks offense came alive in the bottom of the fourth inning. After a 1 out walk and an error put a pair of runners on base, Jack Bilski (La Porte, TX) hit a RBI single to open the scoring. Two hitters later and two outs, Caleb Bryant (North Little Rock, AR) came to the plate and hit a 3-run bomb across Vivian Street to give the Bucks the 4-3 lead after four innings.

The Bucks added another run in the bottom of the fifth. After a lead off bunt for a single and a stolen base, Ian Smith (Bismarck, AR) hit a RBI single into left field to extend the lead. SAU Tech capitlized on the Bucks only error with a run in the top of the sixth inning, but the Bucks would get that run back in the bottom half. In a first and third situation, Trevor Flake (North Little Rock, AR) stole second base that allowed Bryant to take home to make it 6-4.

In the top of the seventh, Clint Lafferty (Seguin, TX) was in his fourth inning of relief. He would get a couple of 2 out base runners, but he would record his only strikeout of the game to secure the win. Lafferty (3-2) gave up 2 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits in 4.0 innings of work. 

The win secured the series win over SAU Tech. 

Game Two

The Bucks picked up where they left off by plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. With the bases loaded, Trace Watkins (Sheridan, AR) hit a line drive back up the middle to score both runs. After a scoreless second inning, SAU Tech plated a run on a throwing error in the top of the third, but the Bucks answered big in the bottom of the inning.

Once again, the bases were loaded, and this time, Trevor Flake answered with a line drive to the right field corner to clear the bases. After an out, Dylan Kight (Marion, AR) hit a RBI single to centerfield to continue the inning. After an out and a single put runners on the corners, the Bucks plated the run on a steal attempt to cap to the 5-run inning.

Starting pitcher Austin Rainey (Conway, AR) settled in and worked a scoreless fourth. The Bucks gave him more run support in the bottom half on a 2-RBI double by Trace Watkins to make it 9-1 after four innings. The Bucks offense wasn't done. In the bottom of the fifth inning, the men put up another crooked number. With a pair of runners on and 1 out, Cody Hayes (Corsicana, TX) singled on a bunt to score a run. Next at-bat, Ian Smith singled on a line drive to right field. Then, Caleb Bryant continued his hot day with a RBI single to centerfield to make it 12-1 after five innings.

Rainey (4-2) pitched the final two innings to get the complete game win. In his 7.0 innings of work, the left hander struck out 6, giving up 1 unearned run and no walks. 

The Bucks are now 15-17 overall and 11-3 through their first round of region play.

The men return to action next week on Tuesday at Southeast Arkansas in Pine Bluff. 

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