(February 28, 2023) Shreveport, LA - After going 3-1 last week, the Bucks were looking to finish off the month of February with a pair of wins this afternoon against Bossier Parrish Community College. The doubleheader was played at Centenary College due to field construction at BPCC. This is the first meeting between the schools in softball. Bossier Parrish competes in Region 14, which is mainly schools in the Northeast part of Texas. 

Game One

The Bucks found themselves in another pitcher's dual. Maddie Muller (Little Elm, TX) went the distance for the Bucks, throwing 6.0 innings. In the outing, she gave up 2 runs (1 earned) on 2 hits. Muller (3-3) struck out 8 and only walked a pair. The Bucks, however, couldn't give Muller run support, getting shut out in the contest, 2-0. In the hits category, the Bucks out hit Bossier 3 to 2. However, the Bucks stranded 4 runners, including runners in scoring position twice. 

In the loss, three Bucks went 1 for 3, including Muller's double in the top of the seventh inning. 

Game Two

The ladies were looking for run production, to get their season record back to .500, and a split with the Lady Cavaliers in Game Two. After a scoreless first inning, the Bucks got the bats going in the top of the second. Marli Huddleston (Bee Branch, AR) came to the plate to lead off the inning and did with a line drive home run over the left field fence, her fourth of the season. After a two-out walk, JJ Bass (Joaquin, TX) singled to left field to plate another run to make it 2-0 in favor of the Bucks.

The lead lasted an inning before Bossier scored 3 runs in the bottom of the third inning to take the lead. Starting pitcher McKenna Bittle (Greer's Ferry, AR) was chased in the inning, giving up 3 runs on 4 hits in the no-decision. Sophomore Caitlyn Mayo (Bigelow, AR) entered the contest in the circle and went to work. She would hold the Lady Cavaliers scoreless in her 3.2 innings of work. 

After a pair of scoreless inning, the Bucks were looking for a boost and found it off the bat of pitcher Caitlyn Mayo. The right hander belted a 2-out single that allowed the Bucks two base runners to cross home plate before she was thrown outbadvancing to second base. The Bucks now held to a 4-3 lead heading into the final inning and a half. 

Mayo held the Lady Cavaliers scoreless in the sixth before giving up a lead off single in the bottom of the seventh to complete her day. Elise Trautman (Conway, AR) came on to pitch, and she would see four hitters and recorded a sac bunt, walk, strikeout, and a pop out to get the save in the Bucks 4-3 win. Caitlyn Mayo (2-1) pitched 3.2 innings, giving up 0 runs on 2 hits. She would strikeout and walk a pair in the win.

With the split, the ladies recorded a 7-7 record in the month of February that saw 6 games get cancelled due to weather and field conditions. All but four of the Bucks games were played against NJCAA Division I schools to prepare for region play. The ladies will now turn the page to March that includes the Branson Bash this coming weekend and a few more non-conference games before starting Region II play on March 16th. For updates, please check on Bucks Athletics social media and www.bucksathletics.com. 

#DefendTheMountain