(March 24, 2021) Wilburton, Oklahoma – It is spring break in Arkansas, but NJCAA softball plays on. The Bucks travelled to Eastern Oklahoma State College for a twin bill against the Lady Mountaineers. After dropping game 1, 15-6, the Bucks won 18-12 to bring their season record to 11-13 and 2-2 in Region 2 play.
Game 1
The visiting Bucks got things going in the first inning. After a single and fielder's choice, Gracie Kimbrell (North Little Rock, AR) singled to advance Madelynn Lacaze (Union Grove, TX) to 3rd base. Lacaze would score on error on the same play. But, that's all the run production the Bucks could produce. Kimbrell got the start in the circle for the Bucks. In the bottom of the frame, EOSC plated 2 runs of their own and led 2-1 after 1 inning.
The Bucks went scoreless in the top of the 2nd, and the Lady Mountaineers increased their lead to 5-1 after 2. The Bucks would cut into their lead in the top of the 3rd. With 2 outs, Kimbrell walked to setup the return of Maggie Lilly (Mt. Pleasant, TX) to the Bucks lineup. Fresh off the injured list, Lilly belted a 2-run homer to left center field. But, the homer woke up the Lady Mountaineers. EOSC reeled off 10 runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning to lead 15-3 after 3. Brooke Detommaso (Las Vegas, NV) came on in relief during the inning.
The Bucks would pick up 3 more runs in the top of the 4th. With 1 out, Madison Humphry (Murfreesboro, AR) singled before advancing to 2nd on a wild pitch. With 2 outs, Ashton Daniel (Rockwall, TX) singled to advance Humphry to 3rd base. Mackenzie Person (Bonham, TX) followed with a walk to bring Lacaze to the plate. After a EOSC pitching change, Madelynn doubled to right centerfield and cleared the bases. But, the Bucks momentum stopped there. EOSC went scoreless in the bottom half and held the Bucks scoreless in the 5th inning. Lady Mountaineers win 15-6.
In the loss, Gracie Kimbrell (5-7) threw 2.1 innings giving up 13 runs (9 earned) on 12 hits. She struck out 1 and walked a pair. Brooke Detommaso pitched 1.2 innings, giving up 2 runs on 5 hits.
Game 2
The Bucks bats came alive in the game 2. Madelynn Lacaze led off with a single followed by a Kristen McMillan (Winnsboro, TX) double. With 1 out, a walk loaded the bases. Maddi Miles hit into a fielder's choice that plated Lacaze. Next at-bat, McMillan scored on an error by the pitcher. Mackenzie Person then singled to plate to score Maggie Lilly to end the scoring for the Bucks. In the bottom of the frame, Malven's Hannah Hunter got the start in the circle and held EOSC scoreless. Bucks led 3-0 after 1.
The bats stayed hot in the 2nd inning. Madelynn Lacaze led off with a solo home run. After McMillan reached 1st, she was doubled off on a hard line drive to the short stop. With 2 out, Lilly reached on a walk to setup Maddi Miles. Maddi hit her first homer of the season. Bucks led 6-0 after the half inning, but the Lady Mountaineers would not go away. Hunter surrendered 6 runs, and the game was tied at 6-6 after 2 innings.
Both teams went scoreless in the 3rd inning. The Bucks got the bats going again in the 4th and plated 5 runs. Kimbrell singled to right field before Maggie Lilly hit her second homer of the day to give the Bucks the lead. Two hitters later, Madison Humphry got in on the action with her 4th home run of the season, a solo shot. After a 1 out walk and a fielder's choice, Sydney Smith (Siloam Springs, AR) advanced on an error and would score on Leah Wilkins' (Van Buren, AR) RBI double. Lacaze then reached on a walk before Kristen McMillan reached on an error that allowed Wilkins to score. In the bottom half, Hannah Hunter recorded an out before being chased from the game with runners on 2nd and 3rd. Mena's Autumn Powell came on in relief. Both runners would score, but Powell got 2 ground balls to end the inning. Bucks led 11-8 after 4.
The Bucks bats were silenced in the 5th, and EOSC added a run after a passed ball and couple sacrifice flies. Bucks still lead 11-9 going into the 6th. Back-to-back singles and a fielder's choice brought up Kristen McMillan to bat. She hit an RBI double to plate Wilkins. A fielder choice and ground out ended top of the 6th. In the bottom of the frame, EOSC added a couple runs to cut the lead to 12-11 heading into the final inning.
In the top of the 7th, Maddi Miles singled and Madison Humphry doubled to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs. Mackenzie Person hit a RBI single to left field. Next at-bat, Autumn Powell helped her own cause with a RBI fielder's choice. After a Leah Wilkins' single, Madelynn Lacaze hit a line drive off the first basemen to plate Powell. A Kimbrell walked loaded the bases with 2 outs. Maggie Lilly topped off her day with a 2 RBI single to plate Wilkins and Lacaze. Maddi Miles then reached on an error to score Kimbrell. A strikeout ended the top half, but the Bucks plated 6 runs. EOSC picked a run on a solo homer, but Powell got a fly out and strike out to end the game. Bucks win 18-12.
In the start, Hannah Hunter pitched 3.1 innings, giving up 8 runs (4 earned) on 10 hits. She struck out 1 and walked 3. Picking up the win in relief, Autumn Powell pitched 3.2 innings, giving up 4 runs (3 earned) on 8 hits. She struck out 1 and walked 1 in the outing.
The Bucks are back at home on Saturday, March 27th, against NOC Tonkawa at Cummings-Cecil Field.
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