(April 13, 2021) Enid, Oklahoma – After dropping their last 4 games, the Bucks travelled to Northern Oklahoma College – Enid to take on the Jets. Coming into the double header, the Bucks had a 13-21 record (3-9 in Region 2).
Game 1
After the Bucks went in order to start the game, Gracie Kimbrell (North Little Rock, AR) got the start in the circle for the Bucks. She would give up a lead off double that led to an Enid run in the bottom of the first. The Bucks would get that run back in the top of the 2nd. With 1 out, Kristen McMillan (Winnsboro, TX) singled before stealing 2nd in the next at-bat. Maddi Miles (Jonesboro, AR) would double to plate McMillan to tie the game at a run apiece after 2 innings.
The Bucks would break the tie with 1 swing of the bat in the 3rd inning. With 1 out, Mackenzie Person (Bonham, TX) singled to bring Madelynn Lacaze (Union Grove, TX). She would see 9 pitches in the at-bat and take the 3-2 pitch to deep centerfield for her 7th homer of the season. Bucks lead 3-1 after 3 innings.
Gracie Kimbrell settled into the game and produced ground balls and pop ups for outs in the middle innings. She would not record her first strikeouts until the bottom of the 5th. She would strikeout a couple in the inning.
Madelynn Lacaze increased the Bucks lead with her 8th homer of the season. The solo jack was a no doubter over the right field fence. The Bucks would be retired in order to end the top of the 6th. Kimbrell produced 3 groundouts to end the 6th inning with the Bucks ahead 4-1.
The Bucks produced a couple base runners in the top half of the 7th but were unable to produce runs. In the bottom half, Kimbrell gave up a solo homer and then loaded the bases with 2 outs. Enid then scores on a single and an error to tie the game to send it to extras.
In the top of the 8th and 1 out, Madelynn Lacaze goes deep for her 3rd homer of the game and 9th of the season. The solo shot to right field gave the Bucks the 1 run lead. The Bucks were not done in the inning. Gracie Kimbrell singled and was pinch ran for by Avery Cotten (Longview, TX). Maggie Lilly (Mt. Pleasant, TX) reached on an error. Kristen McMillan plated Cotten on an RBI single to left field to increase the lead to 6-4. In the bottom half, Kimbrell gave up another solo homer before putting runners on 1st and 2nd. Hannah Hunter (Malvern, AR) come on to pitch and picked up her 1st save of the season. She got a fly out to short and a fly out foul to end the game.
In the win, Gracie Kimbrell (7-10) pitch 7.1 innings, giving up 5 runs (4 earned) on 10 hits. She would strike out 2 and walk 3 in the outing. Hannah Hunter got the save on 0.2 innings of work, giving up 1 hit and no runs.
Game 2
The Bucks looked to build on their momentum from game 1 and picked up a run in the top of the 1st. Avery Cotten led off with a walk before she stole 2nd in the next at-bat. With 2 outs, Maggie Lilly singled to centerfield to score Cotten to make it a 1-0 lead midway through the 1st. Hannah Hunter got the start in the circle and put down the Jets in order to end the inning.
The Bucks and Jets went scoreless in the 2nd and 3rd innings before the Bucks added another run in the 4th. Kristen McMillan led off in the inning with double to centerfield and advanced to 3rd on a groundout to the right side. In the next at-bat, a missed squeeze play resulted in McMillan stealing home with an acrobatic move at the plate to score. The Bucks held a 2-0 lead going into the 5th inning.
In the top of the 5th, Avery Cotten singled to left field with 1 out. Madelynn Lacaze would do the same, and both runners advanced a base due to an error. With runners on 2nd and 3rd, Gracie Kimbrell hit a 3-run bomb to right field that was estimated to be 25 foot beyond the fence. The homer made it a 5-0 Bucks lead midway through the 5th. The Jets added 3 runs in the bottom half off a double and a 2-run homer off Hunter. Hunter was chased from the game with the bases loaded. Autumn Powell (Mena, AR) came in on relief. She would give up a walk that scored a run, but she was able to get a fly out to end the threat. Bucks held on to their lead, 5-4.
After a scoreless top half for the Bucks, Powell got an out before giving up a walk and single. Brooke Detommaso (Las Vegas, NV) came on in relief with a 2-0 count in the next at-bat. She would walk the bases loaded before giving up a grand slam to give the Jets the 8-5 lead after 6 innings.
In the top of the 7th, Lacaze walked with 1 out before Kimbrell singled. Ashlee Gurley (Logansport, LA) would pinch run for Kimbrell. Maggie Lilly would double to plate Lacaze, but the Bucks would flyout and strikeout to end the game. Bucks fall 8-6.
The Bucks record is now at 14-22 and 4-10 in region play.
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