February 7, 2021 (Hot Springs, AR) – The Bucks travelled to Hot Springs High School to take on the National Park College Nighthawks on a cold Sunday morning. The first game was filled with Bucks errors leading to a 19-11 loss. The Bucks offense was stifled resulting in a 7-0 loss in game 2.
To start off game 1, the Bucks stepped into the box and put up 2 runs. Mackenzie Person (Bonham, TX) led off with a line drive single. After a fielder's choice, Madelynn Lacaze (Union Grove, TX) walked to setup Gracie Kimbrell's (North Little Rock, AR) RBI single scoring Maggie Lilly (Mt. Pleasant, TX). Kristen McMillan (Winnsboro, TX) stepped in and picked up her own RBI single scoring Lacaze. Back-to-back strikeouts ended the inning. The Nighthawks scored 4 runs on 3 errors and a wild pitch to lead 4-2 after an inning.
In the top of the 2nd, the Bucks did not get any offense going, and the Nighthawks once again capitalized on more errors scoring 4 runs to lead 8-4 after 2. Kimbrell would double in the top of the 3rd, and Hannah Hunter (Malvern, AR) hit a 2-run homerun to cut the lead 8-6 after 3 innings.
The Bucks would put up a crooked number in the top of the 4th. After Madison Humphry (Murfreesboro, AR) reached on an error. Maddi Miles (Jonesboro, AR) would pinch hit and single. Two hitters later, Maggie Lilly would score Humphry on a single to centerfield. With a 2 out walk for Kimbrell, Kristen McMillan singled to score Miles. Hunter would walk to setup a 2 RBI single to right field by Ashlee Gurley (Logansport, LA). Gurley would steal 2nd that allowed Hunter to take home on the throw. The Bucks would lead after the half inning, but it was short lived. NPC would score on a 3-run homerun and once again make the best of the Bucks not being able to make a play to end the inning. Nighthawks led 16-10 after 4.
In the 5th inning, the Bucks would scratch in a run and leave the bases loaded. Ashton Daniel (Rockwall, TX) singled, Person walked, and Lilly was hit by a pitch. Three at bats later, the Bucks would get a run on Kristen McMillan's single before she was picked off at first base to end the inning. But, the Nighthawks would end the game by plating 3 runs. The Bucks fell in 5 innings 19-11.
In game 2, the Bucks offense was silenced. NPC scored 2 runs on a homerun in the 2nd inning, plated 4 more runs in the bottom of the 5th inning, and plated another in the bottom of the 6th to win 7-0.
The only offensive highlight for the Bucks was Gracie Kimbrell going 3-3 at the plate. However, the Bucks could not find a way to generate any offense. Hannah Hunter pitched all 6 innings in the circle giving up 7 runs while striking out 5 and walking 4.
The Bucks play on Tuesday, February 9th, at Cummings-Cecil Field against Carl Albert State College. First pitch is 1 pm for the doubleheader.
#GOBUCKS