(March 15, 2023) Mena, Arkansas - After a week off from games, the ladies returned to Cummings-Cecil Field to begin region play this afternoon against Carl Albert State College. The ladies swept their doubleheader with Connors State on walk-off hits and looked to keep the momentum going to begin region play 2-0.

Game One

The ladies had no problem getting base hits in the contest, but failed to produce many runs in the contest. After a roug start defensively, the Bucks found themselves down 3-0 after a pair of innings. When things seemed to pick up in the bottom of the third inning, the ladies would strand the bases loaded and only produced a single run in the inning, having no outs and the bases loaded to get the inning started. Abi West (Ida, AR) produced a run on a RBI single to left field in the inning. 

The ladies would trail 3-1 for the next three innings until the bottom of the seventh. JJ Bass (Joaquin, TX) led off with a single and then scored from first base on a Blaire Gentry (Lockesburg, AR) RBI double to left field. After an out, starting pitcher Maddie Muller (Little Elm, TX) singled on a line drive to right field to score Gentry. Next at-bat, Abi West drove a ball into centerfield to score pinch runner Kylee Ward (Rogers, AR) to walk it off and give the Bucks a 4-3 win.

Maddie Muller (5-3) picked up her fifth win of the season, a day after being named the Region II Pitcher of the Week from her previous performance. In 7.0 innings of work, she produced 3 unearned runs on 3 hits. She struck out 5 and only walked a lone hitter in the contest.

Game Two

The second game of the doubleheader seemed to be the tale of two games, but very similar. The ladies struggled to get base hits early on, but once again, early defensive struggles had the Bucks down 1-0 after an inning of play. The ladies didn't struggle to hit the ball, but were lining out and hitting hard ground balls that resulted in outs. Then, in the bottom of the fifth, Marli Huddleston (Bee Branch, AR) singled on a line drive to centerfield to plate a run to tie the game at 1-1. 

In the sixth, Carl Albert regained their lead 2-1, but the ladies answered on a Abi West wall banger to centerfield to score a run to tie the game at 2-2. The game would end up in extra innings after a scoreless seventh. The Vikings threatened with a runner in scoring position, but the Bucks got out of the inning to give themselves a change to win it in the bottom of the frame.

Once again, JJ Bass led off the inning and found herself on second base. After an intentional walk and two outs, Chloe Ray (Fort Smith, AR) came to the plate and hit a RBI single into right field to give the Bucks their fourth straight walk off win, 3-2.

Blaire Gentry (3-3) recorded her third win of the season, pitching all 8.0 innings. The sophomore gave up 2 runs (1 earned) on 5 hits. She would also strike out 5 and walk a lone hitter in the contest.

The Bucks begin conference play 2-0 and have another week off of games before travelling to South Arkansas Community College on Thursday, March 25th, to take on the Stars in another Region II doubleheader. 

#DefendTheMountain