(April 15, 2022) Wilburton, Oklahoma - Coming off a tough road trip at Western Oklahoma last week, the Bucks waited nearly a week to play again, but this week's trip on Friday was much shorter just over the border. The Bucks and Mountaineers faced off in a doubleheader that potentially has postseason berth opportunities on the line for the upcoming Region II Tournament held in Piedmont, Oklahoma on May 12th - 15th.
GAME ONE
The intial game of the doubleheader was scoreless through three innings. The Bucks turned regular Game One starter Blaire Gentry (Lockesburg, AR) loose in the circle and had 4 strikeouts through the initial three innings. She would help out her own cause in the top of the fourth on a 1 out ground out that scored Madelynn Lacaze (Gladewater, TX) to give the Bucks a 1-0 lead. She would continue to throw a scoreless game into the bottom half.
The Bucks increased their lead with 3 runs in the top of the fifth inning with 2 outs. With a runner on, Abi West (Ida, AR) hit a RBI double to left field. Next at-bat, Madelynn Lacaze traded places with her before scoring on a Kristen McMillan (Winnsboro, TX) RBI single to centerfield to make it 4-0. The lead, however, was short lived as the Mountaineers plated 4 runs in the bottom half to make it 4-4 after five.
The Bucks answered in the top of the sixth inning with the bases loaded and an out. Back from injury, Jah'Kaiya Woods (Little Rock, AR) grounded out to the right side to give the Bucks a 5-4 lead, which turned out to be the winning run. Gentry continued her dominance in the cirlce and closed out the last six outs without giving up a run. Bucks get back in the win column, winning 5-4.
Blaire Gentry (9-7) picked up her nineth win of the season in a complete game (7.0 innings). She would give up 4 earned runs on 9 hit, but the right hander would strikeout 7 and walk 3 hitters in the outing.
GAME TWO
Looking to keep the momentum rolling, the Bucks would score runs in five of the seven innings in the second game. The scoring started in the top of the first inning with 2 outs and two runners on for Kaylin McKee (Wickes, AR). The local talent hit a RBI single to plate West before stealing second base. The steal would pay off as both runners aboard would score on two wild pitches in the next at-bat before starting pitcher Caitlyn Mayo (Bigelow, AR) got to make the trip to the circle. She pitched a scoreless bottom half to make it 3-0 after an inning.
Both teams would plate a run apiece in the second inning. The Bucks run came on a RBI double by Jah'Kaiya Woods. With a 4-1 lead, the Bucks would produced another 3-run inning in the third. With 2 outs and runner on, Kristen McMillan reached on an error that scored a run. Next at-bat, Presleigh Payne (Grapevine, TX) hit her 8th homer of the season, a 2-run shot over the left field fence to make it 7-1.
Mayo continued to cruise through the third and fourth innings. The Bucks plated another run in the fifth on a solo bomb by Blaire Gentry, her 10th of the season. Another scoreless bottom half for Mayo brough the Bucks back to the plate, looking to potentially end the game early via run-rule. Madelynn Lacaze hit a 2-RBI single with 2 outs to increase the lead to 10-1. However, the Mountaineers would fight back in the bottom half and plated 2 runs off Mayo, chasing her from the game. Brookelyn Coffey (Sims, AR) entered the contest, and she would record the last 6 outs of the game, allowing a run in the bottom of the seventh inning. However, she would preserve the Bucks win, 10-4.
Caitlyn Mayo (8-8) got her record back to even on the season in her 5.0 innings of work. The freshmen gave up 3 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits. She struckout a single hitter and walked a pair. Brookelyn Coffey gave up an unearned run on 2 hits, only walking 1 in her 2.0 innings of work.
Both wins moves the Bucks record to 21-22 on the season, matching last year's win total with 3 weeks remaining in the season.
Next week will be a busy week, as the Bucks have 3 straight home dates on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Tuesday and Thursday's games are Region II contest against NOC-Tonkawa and Rose State College. All dates have 2 & 4 pm start times.
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