(April 30, 2023) Mena, Arkansas - Coming off a doubleheader split, the ladies faced off against #1 Murray State College to finish up their regular season. On the day, the Bucks could only help their region seeding, heading into the Region II Tournament this coming week in Hot Springs. Earlier this season, the Aggies took a pair from the Bucks in Tishomingo.
Game One
The ladies found themselves in a battle to start off the day. Blaire Gentry (Lockesburg, AR) got the start in the circle and gave up a pair of home runs in the third and fourth innings. The Bucks trailed 3-0 until the bottom of the sixth inning. Relief pitcher Caitlyn Mayo (Bigelow, AR) came to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. She would single to right field to plate the Bucks first run of the game. Next at-bat, JJ Bass (Joaquin, TX) scored from third on an error by the catcher before Chloe Ray (Fort Smith, AR) grounded out to tie the game at 3-3. Then, Mayo took the lead for herself on a passed ball that gave the Bucks the 4-3 advantage.
In the top of the seventh, the Aggies plated a pair of runs to regain the lead. The Bucks got the lead off runner on the bottom half, but a double play and a ground out ended the game.
Mayo (3-3) pitched the final 1.1 innings, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits. She also struck out 1 on the day. Blaire Gentry pitched 5.2 innings, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits. The sophomore struck out 6 and walked 1 in the outing.
Game Two
Once again, the Bucks found themselve in an early 4-0 hole mid-way through the second inning, but the ladies found life in the bottom of the second. Back-to-back singles led off the inning. After a pair of outs, Kylee Ward (Lowell, AR) hit a RBI single to centerfield. In the next at-bat, Marli Huddleston (Bee Branch, AR) hit her 13th home run of the season. The 3-run blast tied the contest at 4-4 after two innings.
After a scoreless third, Murray State put up a 4 spot in the top of the fourth, taking advantage of some Bucks errors. The ladies kept fighting with a run in the bottom of the inning on an Abi West (Ida, AR) ground out to the right side to make it 8-5 after four innings, but the Aggies added a run in the sixth and won the game, 9-5.
Maddie Muller (Little Elm, TX) got the start in the circle and pitched all 7.0 innings. Muller (12-8) gave up 9 runs (3 earned) on 11 hits, while striking out 6 and walking a pair in the outing.
The ladies finished the regular season 26-22 and 15-9 in region play. The Bucks will be the #3 seed in the Region II Tournament this week in Hot Springs. The ladies will play #2 National Park at 2 pm on Wednesday, May 3rd, at Majestic Park. The Bucks beat the Nighthawks three out of four games this season, including a pair of wins at Majestic Park.
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