(March 10, 2021) Mena, Arkansas – The Rich Mountain Bucks took the field after splitting their first conference date of the season. North Arkansas College visited Cummings-Cecil Field Wednesday afternoon in the return trip from the Bucks' opener to begin the season. The Bucks completed the season sweep of the Pioneers, 15-3 and 8-7.
Game 1
Gracie Kimbrell (North Little Rock, AR) got her 11th start of the season in the circle. In the top of the 1st, she would give up 2 runs to the Pioneers. The Bucks were unable to answer in the bottom half with the Pioneers leading 2-0 after 1.
Kimbrell would strike out the side in the top of the 2nd inning and that led to 6 runs for the Bucks in the bottom half. With 1 out, Maddi Miles (Jonesboro, AR) singled before Hannah Hunter (Malvern, AR) would double. Miles scored from 3rd base on a wild pitch before Avery Cotten (Longview, TX) would walk. Next at-bat, Ashton Daniel singled to load the bases before Mackenzie Person (Bonham, TX) would hit a 2 RBI single before she advanced to 2nd on the throw home. Kristen McMillan (Winnsboro, TX) singled to setup Madelynn Lacaze's (Union Grove, TX) base clearing triple. She would get stranded to end the inning. Bucks led 6-2.
Another scoreless inning by Kimbrell, the Bucks put up another crooked number in the bottom half, scoring 7 runs. Back-to-back-to-back singles loaded the bases which led to Miles taking home again on a wild pitch. With 1 out and 2 runners on, Mackenzie Person would single and score Hunter. Next at-bat, McMillan walked to load the bases for Gracie Kimbrell's base clearing triple. Madison Humphry (Murfreesboro, AR) would hit her 3rd homer of the season. The 2-run shot made it 13-2 after 3 innings.
Kimbrell threw up another zero before the Bucks score their final 2 runs of the game. Person reached with 1 out before being driven home by Kristen McMillan's RBI double. McMillan would score from second on a ground out to the right side by Lacaze.
The Pioneers would pick up a run in the top of the 5th, but the Bucks would win it in 5 innings, 15-3.
Gracie Kimbrell (5-5) threw a complete game (5 innings), giving up 3 runs on 6 hits while striking out 7 and walking 3.
Game 2
Getting her 4th start of the season in game 2 was Mena's own Autumn Powell. She would hold the Pioneers scoreless in the top half to start the game. With 2 outs in the bottom half, Madelynn Lacaze singled and stole 2nd base before Gracie Kimbrell hit her second triple of the day to plate Lacaze. But, that's all the run production the Bucks could produce, 1-0 after one.
Powell surrendered runs in the top of the 2nd and 3rd innings. After a scoreless 2nd inning, Lacaze would hit a 2 out triple (2nd of the day) to score Maddi Miles (walked) to knot the game at 2-2. Next at-bat, Gracie Kimbrell would hit a 2-run bomb (4th of the season) over left field. Bucks led 4-2 after 3 innings.
In the top of the 4th, the Bucks made 2 errors that led to 5 Pioneer runs and held the Bucks scoreless in the bottom half. A scoreless top of the 5th by the Pioneers was highlighted by a Maddi Miles catch to end the inning that prevented 2 runs. In the bottom of the 5th, a 2-out walk by Kristen McMillan led to a RBI double by Madelynn Lacaze, but that is all the Bucks could get. Bucks trailed 7-5 after 5.
Powell was chased in the top of the 6th with runners on first and second. Hannah Hunter came on in relief. Hunter got a double play and a strike out to get out of the inning unscathed. She was able to put up another zero in the top of the 7th as well.
In the bottom of the 7th, Maggie Lilly (Mt. Pleasant, TX) pinch-hit and reached on an error. Avery Cotten replaced Lilly on the base paths. With 2 outs, McMillan singled to setup Madelynn Lacaze's walk off homer to win the game, 8-7.
In the win, Hannah Hunter (1-3) pitched 2 innings of scoreless ball. She only gave up 1 hit while striking out 3.
The Bucks have a week break before traveling to SAU Tech on Thursday, March 18th.
#GOBUCKS