(May 3, 2022) Mena, Arkansas – Coming off a split on Sophomore Day this Sunday with Eastern Oklahoma State, the Bucks remained at home for the season finale against Connors State College. The doubleheader has seeding implications. Currently, the Cowgirls are the sixth seed, while the Bucks are the seventh seed for the upcoming Region II Tournament next week in Piedmont, Oklahoma. The Cowgirls took two from the Bucks earlier this season in Warner.
GAME ONE
Blaire Gentry (Lockesburg, AR) got the start in the circle and stranded a pair of runners in the top of the first inning. In the bottom half, she would come to bat with the bases loaded and no outs. Gentry lined a single up the middle to score the first run of the game. Next at-bat, Presleigh Payne (Grapevine, TX) singled to left field to plate another run. Next hitter, Western Mussett (Garvin, OK) walked with the bases loaded to make it 3-0. After an out, Kristen McMillan (Winnsboro, TX) hit a RBI line drive up the middle. Tabry Jordan (Little Rock, AR), the ninth hitter of the inning, walked to plate the fifth run of the inning to make 5-0 after one inning.
Connors scored a run in the top of the second inning to make it 5-1 after two. Gentry cruised through the third and fourth innings to bring the Bucks back to the plate. With 1 out, Western Mussett hit a sacrifice fly to right field to make it 6-1 after four, which would be the final score.
Blaire Gentry (14-9) threw a complete game (7.0 innings, giving up a run on 7 hits. She right hander struck out four and walked a pair in the game.
GAME TWO
Caitlyn Mayo (Bigelow, AR) got the start in game two, striking out a pair in the top of the first inning. The Bucks got the offense going in the bottom half. With runners on the corners and no outs, Madelynn Lacaze (Gladewater, TX) singled to right field to push across the first run of the game. Next at-bat, Western Mussett grounded out to the right side to score another run to make it 2-0 after an inning.
Connors had the bases loaded in the top of the second, but only scratched across a run. In the bottom half, Abi West (Ida, AR) came to bat with 2 outs and runners on second and third. She would hit an infield bloop over the pitcher's head to score a run. Next at-bat, Madelynn Lacaze hit a 2 RBI single to center field to make it 5-1 after two innings.
Mayo put up a zero in the top of the third inning. With a runner on first and two outs in the bottom half, Shiley Cartinez (Many, LA) hit a RBI double to left center field. Next at-bat, Cartinez would score on a RBI single by Kristen McMillan. A hit and an error loaded the bases for Madelynn Lacaze. She would hit an opposite field grand slam to make it 11-1. A single and a double put runners in scoring position for Presleigh Payne (Grapevine, TX). She would hit a RBI single to extend the lead to 12-1 after three innings.
The fourth inning would be scoreless, and Caitlyn Mayo (11-10) would close the door in the top of the fifth to end the game. She would throw all 5.0 innings, giving up a run on 6 hits. She would strike out 3 and walk a pair in the game.
The Bucks will wait for the remainder of the season to play out to learn their opponent in the first round of the Region II Tournament next week in Piedmont, OK. The Bucks will play on May 12th in the first round.
#GOBUCKS