(April 19, 2021) Tonkawa, Oklahoma – Coming off the longest road trip of the season and getting swept at Western Oklahoma, the Bucks turned around and made the 2nd longest road trip to NOC-Tonkawa for a doubleheader. Earlier in the season, the Bucks were swept by Tonkawa at home, including an 11-inning game.
Game 1
For the first 2 innings, the Bucks and Lady Mavs kept each other in check. Hannah Hunter (Malvern, AR) got the start in the circle and worked both scoreless innings. The Bucks offense came alive in the 3rd inning. Back-to-back singles put runners on the corners for Maggie Lilly (Mt. Pleasant, TX). Maggie lifted one to right field to plate Hannah Hunter. With 1 out, Gracie Kimbrell (North Little Rock, AR) doubled to centerfield to put runners in scoring position. Two at-bats later, Avery Cotten (Longview, TX) hit a 2-RBI double to centerfield to plate Kimbrell and Kristen McMillan (Winnsboro, TX). Bucks had a 3-0 lead midway through the 3rd. In the bottom half, Hunter surrendered a 2-run homer to the Lady Mavs pitcher to make it 3-2 after 3 innings in favor of the Bucks.
The Bucks went scoreless in the 4th, and the Lady Mavs took the lead on a 2-RBI double. It was 4-3 after 4 innings. The Bucks were unable to get any offensive production for the remainder of the game as the Lady Mavs scored a run in the 5th and 3 runs in the bottom of the 6th to win, 8-3.
In the loss, Hannah Hunter (3-9) pitched 4 innings, giving up 5 runs on 8 hits. Autumn Powell (Mena, AR) pitched 2 innings in relief. She gave up 3 runs (0 earned) on 3 hits.
Game 2
The Bucks looked to rebound and got off to a hot start. Avery Cotten and Maggie Lilly got it started with back-to-back singles. Gracie Kimbrell then singled to plate Cotten. After a fielder's choice, Ashlee Gurley (Logansport, LA) singled to right field to plate Kimbrell and Madelynn Lacaze. After a single, a groundout, and walk, Hannah Hunter reached on an error to score Gurley and Kristen McMillan. In the bottom half, Gracie Kimbrell got the start in the circle and put up a zero in the bottom half.
A single, hit-by-pitch, and single loaded the bases. Ashlee Gurley doubled to centerfield to plate Lilly and Kimbrell. Madelynn Lacaze (Union Grove, TX) then scored on a wild pitch before Kristen McMillan doubled to plate Gurley. After Kimbrell put up another zero in the bottom half, the Bucks led 9-0 after 2 innings.
In the 3rd, the Bucks looked to add more runs and did so. With 1 out, Lilly and Kimbrell both singled and advanced on an error. Madelynn Lacaze would then reach on an error to plate Lilly. With Lauren Buss (Clarksville, AR) running for Kimbrell, Ashlee Gurley grounded out to score Buss. With Lacaze on 3rd, Kristen McMillan hit an RBI single to centerfield. After an Autumn Powell single, Maddi Miles (Jonesboro, AR) pinch hit and singled to centerfield to plate McMillan. A strikeout stranded a couple runners, but the Bucks were ahead 13-0 midway through 3. The Lady Mavs plated 5 runs in the bottom half to cut the Bucks lead to 13-5 after 3 innings.
The Bucks loaded the bases with 2 outs but were unable to push across any runs in the top of the 4th. Hannah Hunter come on in relief to start the bottom of the 4th and surrendered a run. Bucks lead 13-6 after 4 innings.
In the 5th, the Bucks got the run they needed to try and end in the game in 5 innings. With 1 out, Ashton Daniel (Rockwall, TX) singled before Hannah Hunter bunted for a base hit. Daniel advanced to 3rd on the bunt. Avery Cotten would hit a sac fly to centerfield to score Daniel to make it a 14-6 lead going into the bottom of the 5th. Hannah Hunter ended the game with a fly out, a strikeout, and a strikeout to end the game.
In the win, Gracie Kimbrell (8-11) pitched 3 innings, giving up 5 runs (3 earned) on 6 hits. Hannah Hunter pitched 2 innings, giving up 1 run on 2 hits.
The win brings the Bucks record to 16-26 on the year and 6-14 in region play.
The Bucks play again on Thursday, April 22nd, at home against Carl Albert State College.
#GOBUCKS