(March 23, 2023) El Dorado, Arkansas - The Bucks entered the doubleheader on Thursday on a 5-game winning streak and were 2-0 in region play. Four of their 5 wins were on walk-off hits in the final or extra innings. The ladies wanted to keep their momentum going on the road against South Arkansas in the region doubleheader. The ladies swept the Stars last season in El Dorado in a non-league doubleheader. 

Game One

After a pair of innings, the ladies found themselves in a 3-2 hole against South Arkansas due to errors in the bottom of the second. New Southwestern Oklahoma State committ Blaire Gentry (Lockesburg, AR) hit a left field bomb to lead off the second inning, and Western Mussett (Garvan, OK) plated a run on an error in the top half. The Bucks offense then came alive in the third inning with a crooked number in the frame. The inning started with a bases loaded walk and a fielder's choice plating runs. Next at-bat, Kirsten Sudderth hit a 2-RBI line drive to centerfield. Three hitters later and two outs, Kayleigh Anderson (Forrest City, AR) hit a 2-RBI single to give the Bucks a 8-3 lead.

The Bucks plated another run in the fourth on a fielder's choice by Sudderth, before extending their lead with a 3-run fifth inning. Marli Huddleston (Bee Branch, AR) cleared the bases on a 2-RBI single, and Abi West (Ida, AR) grounded out to plate the Bucks last run of the game to make it 12-3.  

Looking to get the run-rule in five innings, the ladies held the Stars scoreless to end the game. Blaire Gentry (4-3) pitched all 5.0 innings for the Bucks, giving up the 3 runs (1 earned) in the second inning. She recorded 5 strikeouts in the game and gave up only 5 hits. 

Game Two

The ladies used their momentum from the first game of the day and continued their offensive output. The Bucks took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a Blaire Gentry RBI single, and then put up a crooked number in the top of the second inning. With runners in scoring position, starting pitcher Elise Trautman (Conway, AR) hit a RBI single to help her own cause. Next at-bat, Marli Huddleston continued her hot day at the plate with a 2-RBI double. Three hitter's later, Madie Rohre (Whitewright, TX) reached on an error that plated a run for the Bucks. With 1 out, Kirsten Sudderth plated Rohre on a RBI single to centerfield. The Stars would plate a run in the bottom half, but the Bucks held to an 8-1 lead after two.

In the third, Marli Huddleston capped off her day with a 2-run opposite field home run, and the Bucks added 3 more runs in the top of the fourth. Caitlyn Mayo (Bigelow, AR) pinch hit and picked up the RBI single to kickoff the scoring in the inning. Blaire Gentry then finished the day for the Bucks with a 2-RBI single to 13-1, but the Stars plated a lone run in the bottom of the fourth.

Both teams went scoreless in the fifth, and the Bucks claimed a 13-2 win to run their winning streak to 7 games and are 4-0 in Region II. 

Elise Trautman (3-0) went the distance in the circle. The freshmen gave up 2 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits and struck out 4 in the outing. 

With the win in game two, head coach Tracy Nealy recorded his 500th career win as a softball coach. Congratulations to Coach Nealy!! 

The ladies now turn their attention to SAU Tech this coming Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm in East Camden. 

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