(March 22, 2022) Mena, Arkansas - After a split at Rose State last week, the ladies had the weekend off to prepare for the upcoming conference slate of games in late March into April. First, the Bucks were making up a non-region date with National Park College at Cummings-Cecil Field on a very wet and nasty Tuesday afternoon.

Blaire Gentry (Lockesburg, AR) got the start in the circle for the Bucks. She was cruising, letting her defense work behind her through the first six innings of the contest. Gentry only allowed 1 run in the top of the third innings, as the Bucks trailed 1-0 heading in the bottom of the sixth inning. 

In the bottom half, Chloe Ray (Fort Smith, AR) came to bat with a runner on and belted a line drive over the centerfield wall to make it 2-1 after six innings. The rain that started in the sixth inning continued into the seventh inning, and the umpires delayed the contest with 1 out and a runner on second base for NPC. After the 30 minute delay, Gentry came back out in the cirlce and surrended 5 runs in the top of the seventh inning, but the Bucks wouldn't go down without a fight in the bottom half. With the bases loaded, Abi West (Ida, AR) doubled to left field to plate 2 runs. After a walk, a Presleigh Payne (Grapevine, AR) ground out scratched another run across to make it 6-5, but a strikeout with the bases loaded ended the game. Bucks fall 6-5.

Blaire Gentry (6-4) gave up 6 runs on 11 hits in her 7.0 innings of work. She would strikeout 3 hitters in the outing. 

The Bucks return to region play with a doubleheader on Thursday at NOC-Enid before travelling to Connors State on Saturday.

#GOBUCKS