(March 1, 2022) Conway, Arkansas – Coming off a rough performance in their last playing date and a week off due to weather, Bucks Softball added a playing date against Central Baptist College's JV team and travelled to the City of Colleges for a doubleheader this afternoon. The Bucks were looking to get back on track before hosting their first conference doubleheader this Thursday.
GAME ONE
Looking to improve offensive production, the Bucks jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first after Kayleigh Anderson (Forrest City, AR) and Kristen McMillan (Winnsboro, TX) started the game off with back-to-back doubles. After both teams went scoreless in their next at-bats, Central Baptist knotted the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second.
The game didn't stay tied for long. In the top of the third, a walk and two singles loaded the bases for the Bucks. With 2 outs, a walk plated a run before Shiley Cartinez (Many, LA) picked up 3 RBIs on a triple to left field. Next at-bat, Cartinez scored on a RBI single from Ashlee Gurley (Logansport, LA) to give the Bucks a 6-1 lead after three innings.
In the fourth and fifth innings, the Bucks would add to their lead and looked to end the game after five innings. Kayleigh Anderson hit her first homer of the season, a solo shot to left field in the top of the fourth. Starting pitcher Caitlyn Mayo (Bigelow, AR) helped her own cause in the fifth inning with a solo homer to left field. In the next three at-bats, the Bucks once again loaded the bases with 1 out. All runners advanced on a wild pitch to plate a run. Kayleigh Anderson continued her perfect game at the plate with a RBI single to left field. Next at-bat, Kristen McMillan picked up her second RBI of the day on a groundout to the left side to give the Bucks the 11-1 lead. The Bucks closed the door in the bottom half to pickup the win in five innings.
Caitlyn Mayo (4-2) went the distance in the circle for the Bucks, pitching 5.0 innings. She would give up 1 unearned run on 2 hits and struck out 3 in the outing.
GAME TWO
Compared to the first game of the doubleheader, the Bucks were in a pitcher's dual with the Mustangs. Starting pitcher Blaire Gentry (Lockesburg, AR) got the start in the circle. She would go 3.0 innings, giving up 3 runs (2 earned) on 2 hits. She would strikeout 3 hitters in the outing. When she exited the game, the Bucks would be trailing 3-2 to the Mustangs.
Central Baptist scratched across a run in the bottom of the first, but the Bucks would score 2 runs in the top of the second inning. Madelynn Lacaze (Gladewater, TX) hit a 2 RBI double to centerfield to take the lead, but the Bucks would surrender 2 runs in the bottom half to trail 3-2 after two innings.
Brooke Detommaso (Las Vegas, NV) came in to pitch in the top of the fourth inning. She would go the rest of the way in the circle. The Bucks pushed across a run a piece in the top of the fifth and sixth innings. Leah Wilkins (Van Buren, AR) pinch hit and singled to right field. After pinch runner Ashton Daniel (Rockwall, TX) stole second, Blaire Gentry scored her on a RBI single to left field to tie the game. The Bucks would push across the winning run in the sixth after loading the bases. Game one winning pitcher Caitlyn Mayo came on to pinch hit, and she lifted a ball to right field for a sac fly that allowed the Bucks to take a 4-3 lead.
Brooke Detommaso (2-0) stranded two runners in the bottom of the seventh to seal the win. She picked up her second win of the season. Brooke gave up 0 runs on 2 hits, while striking out 5 and walking a lone hitter.
The Bucks play their first conference doubleheader of the season on Thursday, March 3rd, at home versus Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.
#GOBUCKS