(March 7, 2023) Mena, Arkansas - Coming off a long weekend at the Branson Bash, Bucks Softball returned home looking to get their season above .500 against Connors State College. Last season, the Bucks went 3-2 against the Cowgirls in region play. Connors State is a NJCAA DI school in Region 2. Both teams met in the second round of the region tournament, where Connors put the Bucks in the consolation bracket. Today's doubleheader is the only time these teams will meet after a previous date was cancelled due to weather.
Game One
Not to sound like a broken record, but once again, Maddie Muller (Little Elm, TX) found herself in another pitcher's dual. She gave up an early run in the top of the first inning to trail 1-0 for most of the contest until the Bucks broke up the no hitter in the bottom of the fifth inning. Not only did the ladies break up the no hitter, but they recorded 3 hits in the bottom of the frame that tied the contest at 1-1. With 2 outs, Abi West (Ida, AR) singled to centerfield and then took second on a passed ball. Coach Nealy put in pinch runner Layla Baker (Minden, LA) at second base, and the change paid off on a Kirsten Sudderth (Forney, TX) RBI single to centerfield that scored Baker to even the game at 1-1.
The game remained tied and went into extra innings, which meant using the International Tie Breaker rule. Teams would start with their last out at second base to begin each inning. Muller stranded a runner at third base to bring the Bucks to bat in the bottom of the eighth inning. Abi West started off the inning at second base and didn't stay their long. Kirsten Sudderth repeated her fifth inning at-bat to score West to give the Bucks the 2-1 win, walk off style.
Maddie Muller (4-4) pitched all 8.0 innings, giving up 1 run on 4 hits in the contest. The freshmen struck out 10 hitter and walked 3 on the day.
Game Two
Looking to produce another win to get to 11-9 on the season, the ladies once again had to scratch, claw, and play small ball against the Cowgirls. The game was scoreless through two innings before both teams opened the scoring in the third. The Bucks trailed 2-0 midway through the frame, before plating a run on a JJ Bass (Joaquin, TX) RBI triple with 2 outs. Next inning, the ladies took the lead with 2 more runs on singles by Kirsten Sudderth and Chloe Durnal (Maumelle, AR).
After a scoreless fifth inning, Connors regained the lead 5-3 before the Bucks tied the contest in the bottom of the sixth inning. Durnal once again delivered on a RBI single to right field. With pinch runner Elise Trautman (Conway, AR) at third base, Kayleigh Anderson (Forrest City, AR) laid down a perfect squeeze bunt that score Trautman to tie the game at 5-5 heading into the final frame.
Trautman stayed in the contest and took the ball in the circle in the final inning and delivered. She faced four hitters and only gave up a single before retiring the final two hitters to bring the Bucks back to the plate. Kylee Ward (Rogers, AR) led off with a hard single up the middle before advancing on a wild pitch. Coach Nealy once again went to his lineup card and brought in pinch hitter Leah Wilkins (Van Buren, AR). The third year sophomore delivered on a RBI single that was a bunt pushed past the pitcher to give the Bucks their second walk off win of the day.
McKenna Bittle (Greer's Ferry, AR) got the start in the circle, lasting 5.1 innings. The freshmen gave up 4 runs (2 earned) on 2 hits. She would strikeout 4 and walk 5 in the no decision. Sophomore Cailtyn Mayo (Bigelow, AR) got the Bucks out of a jam in the fifth inning, only throwing 0.2 innings.
Elise Trautman (2-0) got the win, pitching the last inning of the game. She only gave up 1 hit and struck out a lone hitter.
The Bucks were supposed to play on Thursday at Cummings-Cecil Field against Labette Community College and Seminole State College, but due to forecasted weather, the triple header has been cancelled. The ladies return to action on March 16th at home against Carl Albert State College. This will be the Bucks first region contest of the season.
#DefendTheMountain