(March 18, 2021) East Camden, Arkansas – After a 7 day layoff, Bucks Softball hit the road to south Arkansas for a twin bill against SAU Tech. The Bucks dropped both games of the doubleheader and split the season series, 2-2.
Game 1
In the top of the 1st inning, the Bucks would get doubled off and ground out to end the inning. The Lady Rockets plated a run on a Bucks error to lead 1-0 after an inning. Gracie Kimbrell (North Little Rock, AR) got the start in the circle. The Bucks would respond in the top of the 2nd. After a 1 out walk, Hannah Hunter (Malvern, AR) singled. Both Hunter and Mackenzie Person (Bonham, TX) would advance on a wild pitch. Person was driven home on a Maddi Miles (Jonesboro, AR) groundout. In the bottom of the frame SAU Tech got a run to lead 2-1 after 2 innings.
In the top of the 3rd, Ashton Daniel (Rockwall, TX) would single to leadoff the inning. After 2 outs, Gracie Kimbrell hit a RBI double to right field. Her and Madison Humphry (Murfreesboro, AR) would trade places on another RBI double. Humphry took 3rd on a Mackenzie Person walk. Person stole 2nd, but both runners were stranded on a strikeout to end the top half. The Bucks lead was short lived. The Lady Rockets regained the lead on a 3-run homer. SAU Tech led 5-3 after 3.
The Bucks went scoreless in the top of the 4th, while the Lady Rockets produced a 5-run inning. With SAU Tech leading 10-3, both teams went scoreless in the 5th. After a scoreless top of the frame, SAU Tech ended the game on a walk-off home run. Bucks fall 11-3.
In the loss, Gracie Kimbrell (5-6) threw 5.1 innings giving up 11 runs (9 earned) on 11 hits. She struck out 6 while walking 2.
Game 2
To start the game, the Bucks would strand 2 runners in the top of the 1st. Autumn Powell (Mena, AR) got the start in the circle for the Bucks. In the bottom half, the Lady Rockets plated a run, but Powell stranded 3 runners for SAU Tech. Lady Rockets led 1-0 after 1.
After another scoreless top half for the Bucks, Powell was chased from the game with the bases loaded. Brooke Detommaso (Las Vegas, NV) came on in relief. The Lady Rockets plated 4 runs to lead 5-0 after 2 innings. The Bucks didn't' go away in the 3rd inning. Mackenzie Person hit a leadoff single. After a fielder's choice, Gracie Kimbrell would hit a 2-run homer, her 5th of the season. Detommaso held the home team scoreless. The Bucks cut into the lead, 5-2 after 3 innings.
After stranding another run in the top of the 4th, Detommaso gave up a solo homer and was chased from the game. Hannah Hunter came in from right field to the circle in relief. Lady Rockets led 6-2.
The Bucks would get a run in the top of the 5th inning. Madelynn Lacaze (Union Grove, TX) hit a line drive single to lead off and would advance to 2nd and 3rd base on passed balls. After a walk, Lacaze would score on another pass ball. But, the Bucks would strand runners on the corners to end the top half. In the bottom, Hunter retired the Lady Rockets. Bucks trail 6-3 after 5.
The bats came alive for the Bucks in the top of the 6th inning. Sydney Smith (Siloam Springs, AR) would reach on a single before advancing to second on a ground out. Mackenzie Person would single to setup runners on the corners for Madelynn Lacaze's 3-run bomb (6th of the season) to tie the game, 6-6. Hannah Hunter recorded a couple strikeouts put the Lady Rockets down in order. Going into the 7th inning, the game was tied 6-6.
The Bucks went in order in the top of the 7th. With the bases loaded, the Lady Rockets would hit a walk-off single to win the game in the bottom of the 7th, 7-6.
In the loss, Hannah Hunter (1-3) pitched 3.1 innings giving up 1 run on 4 hits, while striking out 4 and walking a pair. Detommaso pitched 2.1 innings, giving up 2 run (1 earned), while striking out 1. Powell pitched 1 inning, giving up 4 runs (3 earned) on 3 hits and walked 4.
The Bucks begin the conference portion of their season during Spring Break on Tuesday at Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilburton, OK.
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