(February 13, 2023) Conway, Arkansas - After dropping their opening date at home to Northeast Texas, the Bucks had a series of 6 games get cancelled in a week due to weather and field conditions. The ladies loaded the bus this morning and headed for the City of Colleges for a doubleheader against Central Baptist College's JV team. This is the first of three road trips this week for the Bucks. The ladies will also travel to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in Miami, OK on Wednesday and to Paris Junior College in Paris, TX on Saturday. 

Game One

The Bucks used a big first inning to beat the Mustangs 12-2 in a marathon seven inning ball game this afternoon. The Bucks scored 7 runs in the first two innings, highlighted by Shiley Cartinez's (Many, LA) 3-run home run over the centerfield fence in her first at-bat. After a scoreless third inning, both teams added a run a piece in the fourth, followed by a scoreless fifth inning. The Bucks added a pair of runs in the sixth and seventh innings to round out the scoring for the game. The Mustangs added their second run in the bottom of the sixth inning. 

Other offensive highlights for the Bucks included Kylee Ward (Lowell, AR) going 2 for 5 with a RBI and 2 runs, and Kirsten Sudderth (Forney, TX) went perfect at the plate, going 2 for 2 with a RBI and a pair of walks on the day. The Bucks stole 8 bases on the day, including a pair from JJ Bass (Joaquin, TX) and Ward. 

Sophomore Caitlyn Mayo (Bigelow, AR) got the start for the Bucks and lasted 5.0 innings, while picking up her first win of the season. Mayo (1-0) would surrender an unearned run on 2 hits, while striking out 5 and walking a pair. Freshmen Elise Trautman (Vilonia, AR) finished up the day in the circle, giving up a run on 4 hits. In her 2.0 innings of work, she would strikeout 3 and walk a pair. 

Game Two

The Bucks looked to get their season record to even on the year in Game Two. Central Baptist took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning, before the Bucks put a crooked number on the board in the top of the third. Three straight doubles by Maddie Muller (Little Elm, TX), Shiley Cartinez, and Kayleigh Anderson (Forrest City, AR) led to the 5 runs. After a scoreless bottom half, Blaire Gentry (Lockesburg, AR) picked up a pair of RBIs on a single to right field to give the Bucks a 7-1 lead after four innings. 

After a scoreless fifth and sixth innings, the Bucks offense came back alive in the top of the seventh inning. The 5-run inning was highlighted by a Chrissy Mefford (Alexander, AR) 2-RBI double and a Leah Wilkins (Van Buren, AR) 2-RBI double to seal the win, 12-1. In the game, the Bucks would hit seven doubles with four ladies driving in a pair of runs.  

Maddie Muller (1-1) got her second start of the season and picked up her first win of her college career. In 5.0 innings, the freshmen gave up a run on 1 hit, while striking out 5 and walking 3 in the outting. McKenna Bittle (Greer's Ferry, AR) saw her second action of the season and pitched the remaining 2.0 innings. The freshmen would give up no runs and no hits in the outing, while striking out 5 and walking a pair in the win.

The Bucks are back in action on Wednesday at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. First pitch with the Lady Norse is scheduled for 2 pm at Eric Iverson Field in Miami, OK.

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