(May 11, 2021) Enid, Oklahoma – After finishing their regular season, the Bucks were on the outside looking into the Region 2 Tournament in Muskogee. To make the tournament, the Bucks travelled to NOC-Enid to face the Lady Jets in a best of 3 series.
Game 1
Looking to get a hot start, the Bucks would plate 3 runs in the top of the first inning. Ashton Daniel (Rockwall, TX) singled before Maggie Lilly (Mt. Pleasant, TX) reached on an error. After a double play, Maddi Miles (Jonesboro, AR) singled to put runners on the corners. Next at-bat, Madelynn Lacaze (Union Grove, TX) hit a 3-run homer to give the Bucks an early 3-0 lead.
Gracie Kimbrell (North Little Rock, AR) got the start in the circle. She would surrender 9 runs to the Lady Jets and only pitched 0.2 innings. Brooke Detommaso (Las Vegas, NV) came on in relief to get the Bucks out of the inning while trailing 9-3 after one inning.
The Bucks went scoreless for the next 3 innings, while the Lady Jets scored a run in the bottom of the third to make it 10-3. In the 5th inning, Ashton Daniel led off with a single before Maggie Lilly doubled to put runners on second and third bases. With 1 out, Maddi Miles picked up an RBI on a ground out. Madelynn Lacaze then hit an RBI single to centerfield to make it 10-5 after five innings.
The Lady Jets added another run in the bottom of the sixth, and the Bucks were unable to score any runs in the seventh and fell 11-5.
Game 2
The Bucks would need a win to extend their season and force the "if" game tomorrow afternoon. After a scoreless top of the first, Hannah Hunter (Malvern, AR) would go to work in the circle. She would have a no-hitter going through the third inning that was broke up on a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth. However, the Bucks were able to give her run support to go with her great outing.
In the top of the second, Ashlee Gurley (Logansport, LA) reached on a 2-out walk before stealing 2nd. She would then score on Avery Cotten's (Longview, TX) RBI single to left field to give the Bucks a 1-0 lead after 2 innings.
In the third, Madelynn Lacaze would hit her second homer of the day to make it 2-0. Next inning, Maddi Miles singled before Gurley drew a 1-out walk. Two hitters later, Leah Wilkins (Van Buren, AR) loaded the bases when she was hit by a pitch. Next at-bat, Ashton Daniel singled to left field to plate another Bucks run to make it 3-0 before the Lady Jets hit the solo homer in the fourth. Bucks lead 4-1 after 4 innings.
The Bucks offense came to life in the top of the fifth, scoring 4 runs. Madelynn Lacaze led off and hit her 3rd dinger of the day. Gracie Kimbrell then singled followed by a Maddi Miles double. With 2 runners on, Kristen McMillan (Winnsboro, TX) got in on the action and hit a 3-run bomb to give the Bucks a 7-1 lead.
After a scoreless sixth inning, the Bucks offense came alive again in the seventh. Maddi Miles led off the inning with a solo shot. After an out, Ashlee Gurley reached on an error and advanced to 2nd. She would then score on Sydney Smith's (Siloam Springs, AR) RBI single to left field. Next at-bat, Madison Humphry (Murfreesboro, AR) pinch hit and hit a 2-run homer. With 2 outs, Maggie Lilly singled before Madelynn Lacaze was hit by a pitch. With 2 runners on, Gracie Kimbrell got in on the home run action with a 3-run shot for herself to give the Bucks a 14-1 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh inning.
Hannah Hunter stranded 2 runners in the bottom of the 7th to pick up the 14-1 win. In the game, she would give up 1 run on 2 hits while striking out 8 on the day.
The Bucks and Lady Jets play again tomorrow in a rubber match to decide who advances to the Region 2 Tournament.
#GOBUCKS