(April 10, 2021) Mena, Arkansas – Coming off a doubleheader loss to Seminole, the Bucks hosted Northeastern Oklahoma State University on Saturday afternoon at Cummings-Cecil Field. The Bucks would fall in both games, 12-4 and 9-7, to put their record at 13-21 overall and 3-9 in region play.
Game 1
Gracie Kimbrell (North Little Rock, AR) got the start for the Bucks in circle. She would surrender 4 runs in the 1st, held NEO scoreless in the 2nd, gave up 2 runs in the 3rd, and put up another 0 in the top of the 4th. The Bucks got some offense going in the bottom of the 4th inning. Maddi Miles (Jonesboro, AR) would reach on after being hit by a pitch. She would steal 2nd base before Mackenzie Person (Bonham, TX) would single on a line drive to plate Miles for the Bucks first run of the game. NEO led 6-1 after 4 innings.
NEO would get 3 more runs in the top of the 5th inning off Kimbrell. The Bucks would fight back. With 1 out, Kimbrell walked before Maggie Lilly (Mt. Pleasant, TX) singled. Avery Cotten (Longview, TX) would come in to run for Kimbrell and advanced on a wild pitch to 3rd. Sydney Smith (Siloam Springs, AR) would hit a sacrifice fly to right field to plate Cotten. A strikeout ended the threat as the Bucks trail 9-2.
In the 6th, Brooke Detommaso (Las Vegas, NV) came in to pitch. NEO added 3 more runs to increase their lead to 12-2, but the Bucks didn't go down easy. In the bottom half, Mackenzie Person would single with 2 outs. She would score on Leah Wilkins (Van Buren, AR) double to left field. After Wilkins advanced to 3rd on a wild pitch, Madelynn Lacaze (Union Grove, AR) singled to right field to score Wilkins. Brooke Detommaso would double to put runners on the corners, but a strike out ended the game. Bucks fall 12-4 in 6 innings.
In the loss, Gracie Kimbrell (6-11) threw 5.0 innings, giving up 11 runs (8 earned) on 14 hits. She would strikeout 4 and walk 2 in the outing.
Game 2
Hannah Hunter (Malvern, AR) got the start in the circle for the Bucks. She surrendered a run in the top of the 1st, but the Bucks responded in the bottom half to tie it at 1-1. With 1 out, Gracie Kimbrell doubled to right field before Mackenzie Person traded places with her on a double to centerfield.
Hunter put up a zero in the top of the 2nd, and the Bucks took the lead in the bottom half. Katie Fox (North Little Rock, AR) led off with single. After a fielder's choice, Ashlee Gurley (Logansport, LA) doubled. With 2 outs, Madelynn Lacaze singled to right field to score Avery Cotten and Gurley. Bucks led 3-1 after 2 innings.
NEO would add a run in the top of the 3rd and 3 more in the 4th inning. The Bucks went scoreless in both innings before scoring 3 in the bottom of the 5th. Mackenzie Person reached a on a dropped 3rd strike to lead off the inning before Maggie Lilly reached on an error. With 1 out, Katie Fox loaded the bases when she reached on an error. Avery Cotten plated Person a on sacrifice fly to centerfield. After a walk, Maddi Miles singled to left field to score both Lily and Fox. Bucks led 6-5 after 5 innings.
NEO got 3 runs in the top of the 6th off Hunter. She was chased from the game with 2 outs. Autumn Powell (Mena, AR) came in on relief to record the final out of the inning. The Bucks went scoreless in the bottom half as NEO led 8-6.
Powell loaded the bases and only gave up a run. Heading into the bottom of the 7th, the Bucks trailed 9-6. Leading off in the 7th, Kristen McMillan (Winnsboro, TX) hit a solo shot out of left field to cut the lead to 9-7, but the Bucks would get a runner on and strikeout to end the game. Bucks fall 9-7.
In the loss, Hannah Hunter (2-7) pitched 5.2 innings, giving up 8 runs (6 earned) on 10 hits. She would strikeout 4 and walk 3.
#GOBUCKS