(April 16, 2023) Mena, Arkansas - The Bucks have had a tough go of it as of late. The ladies dropped a pair of doubleheaders against Murray State and Eastern Oklahoma. The Bucks wanted to get things back on track this afternoon at Cummings-Cecil Field against South Arkansas. This afternoon marked the beginning of the final two weeks of the season with all 12 region games still to play, including this afternoon's, and a home and home with Seminole State College. Earlier this season, the Bucks beat South Arkansas in El Dorado in a doubleheader: 12-3 and 13-2. 

Game One

The ladies took an early 4-0 lead after three innings. Kylee Ward (Rogers, AR) and Tabry Jordan (Little Rock, AR) hit a pair of RBI singles in the first and second innings. In the third, Kirsten Sudderth (Forney, TX) squeezed in a run, followed by Maddie Muller (Little Elm, TX) reaching on an error to plate a run to make it 4-0. 

South Arkansas would not go away, plating a run in the top of the fifth and 3 runs in the top of the sixth to gain a 4-3 advantage. Starting pitcher Blaire Gentry (Lockesburg, AR) was chased from the game in the top of the sixth, and Caitlyn Mayo (Bigelow, AR) came on to pitch in relief. The Bucks plated the winning run in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Kylee Ward to pick up the 5-4 win.

Caitlyn Mayo (3-2) picked up the win, pitching the final 1.2 innings. The sophomore would not give up a run and struck out one, facing only 5 batters. Gentry threw 5.1 innings, giving up 4 runs (3 earned) on 6 hits. She struck out 5 and walked a pair in the contest.

Game Two

Having secured the season series win, the ladies were trying to go for the series sweep and found themselves in a 3-0 hole through four innings. The ladies struggled to hit with runners in scoring position. Once again, Maddie Muller was in the circle, and the Bucks struggled to give the freshmen run support. That changed in a big way in the bottom of the fifth inning. 

Marli Huddleston (Bee Branch, AR) hit a line drive home run off the left field foul pole to lead off the inning. After that, the Bucks started rolling, scoring 8 more runs in the half inning. Blaire Gentry picked up 3 RBIs on a pair of doubles. Other highlights in the inning were RBIs by Shiley Cartinez (Many, LA) (1), Chloe Ray (Fort Smith, AR) (1), and Kylee Ward (2).

The Bucks had a 9-2 lead for Muller, and she put down the Stars in order to bring the Bucks back to the plate in the bottom of the sixth. Muller led off with a walk before the Stars recorded a pair of outs. Leah Wilkins (Van Buren, AR) then came to the plate to pinch hit and did in a big way. The left handed hitting third year sophomore bounced a ball off the scoreboard for a 2-run home run that ended the game in an 11-2 run-rule in six innings. 

Maddie Muller (9-5) picked up the win, pitching 6.0 innings and striking out 10. The 10 strikeouts takes her season total to 111. She gave up 3 runs (1 earned) on 7 hits. 

The ladies now have a quick turn around Monday with an important region matchup with Carl Albert State College. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm in Poteau. 

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