(February 23, 2021) Mena, Arkansas – One of the best things about college softball is that in 24 to 48 hours, you get to do it all over again, and every date is another opportunity. The Bucks took on the National Park College Nighthawks on Tuesday afternoon at Cummings-Cecil Field in a doubleheader. The Bucks would win both games of the twin bill, 2-1 and 12-8, to split the season series with NPC.
Game 1
The first of the twin bill is exactly what one would consider a pitcher's dual. Gracie Kimbrell (North Little Rock, AR) got the start in the circle for the Bucks and retired the Nighthawks in order in the first inning, but the Bucks went in order as well. Kimbrell's loan walk came in the top of the 2nd inning, but got a flyout and strikeout to end the inning. The Bucks would strand Madelynn Lacaze (Union Grove, TX) after her walk in the bottom of the 2nd inning.
Kimbrell once again put the Nighthawks down in order in the top of the 3rd inning. The Bucks started to get the bats going with both Hannah Hunter (Malvern, AR) and Ashton Daniel (Rockwall, TX) singling, but a double play would end the inning. Kimbrell gave up a leadoff double in the 4th, but that is where the Nighthawk runner would stay. The Bucks would strand a runner in the bottom half of the 4th to keep the game 0-0.
Once again, Kimbrell put down the Nighthawks in order with a line out and 2 strikeouts. The Bucks got some offense going in the bottom half. With 1 out, Hannah Hunter doubled on a line drive to left field. She would score on Ashton Daniel's 2 out RBI to left field and advanced to second base on the throw home. She wouldn't stay there long with Emily Everitt's (Royse City, TX) line drive to centerfield scoring Daniel. Bucks would lead 2-0 after 5 innings.
In the top of the 6th inning, the Nighthawks got on base on a dropped strike three and scored on a single to right field. The Bucks couldn't extend their lead in the bottom half, but Kimbrell shut the door in the top of the 7th. She ended the game on a strikeout. Bucks win, 2-1.
Gracie Kimbrell pitched a complete game, 7 innings, 2 hits, 9 strikeouts, 1 walk, and gave up 1 unearned run.
Game 2
The second game of the doubleheader was the exact opposite of the first game. If a person liked offense, there was plenty of action to watch. Brooke Detommaso (Las Vegas, NV) got the start in the circle for the Bucks. She gave up a single in the top of the 1st, but she was able to strand the Nighthawk runner. Ashton Daniel got the inning started with a leadoff walk. After a fielder's choice, Kristen McMillan doubled and scored Emily Everitt. Madelynn Lacaze would triple in the next at-bat, scoring McMillan. Lacaze would end up scoring on a ball thrown into the dugout. Bucks led 3-0 after 1 inning.
The Nighthawks would get the sticks going and plate 4 runs in the top half of the 2nd inning and kept the Bucks offense in check. The Nighthawks took their first lead of the day after 2 innings, 4-3. The Nighthawks plated another run in the top of the 3rd inning, but the Bucks would respond. After 3 consecutive walks, Lacaze would single to centerfield to score Daniel. After a fielder's choice, Sydney Smith (Siloam Springs, AR) would drive in Gracie Kimbrell on a fielder's choice. But, the Bucks couldn't muster any more runs. Game was tied at 5-5 after 3 innings.
Once again, the Nighthawks would generate 2 more runs before holding the Bucks offense at bay. In the top of the 5th, the Nighthawks plated another run before the Bucks scored 4 runs of their own. Kristen McMillan tripled before Madelynn Lacaze hit a 2-run homerun in right centerfield. With 2 outs, Smith would single before Hannah Hunter hit a double to advance pinch runner Avery Cotten (Longview, TX). After back-to-back hit by pitches (the latter plated Cotten), Ashton Daniel would drive home Hunter on a single to the shortstop. The Bucks led 9-8 after 5 innings.
Autumn Powell (Mena, AR) came in to relieve Detomasso in the 4th inning. She threw a scoreless 6th and 7th innings to pick-up the win. The Bucks would give her some insurance runs in the bottom of the 6th inning. McMillan got it going with a single before she scored on Lacaze's RBI double. Gracie Kimbrell would trade places with Lacaze with a RBI double of her own. Kimbrell would then score on an error during Sydney Smith's at-bat. The run would end the scoring on the day. The Bucks win 12-8.
Detommaso threw 3.2 innings giving up 7 runs (2 earned) on 7 hits while striking out 1 and walking a pair. In the win, Powell threw 3.1 innings giving up 1 run (unearned) on 3 hits with 3 strikeouts.
The Bucks play again at home with a doubleheader on Thursday, February 25th, at 1 pm against Crowder College.
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