(February 17, 2024) Mena, Arkansas - Coming off a pair of losses on Wednesday to Bossier Parish, the Bucks wanted to get back on track on Saturday at home. The ladies have played all games at home so far this season. Saturday's doubleheader was against in-region DI school, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. Last season, the Bucks dropped both games in Miami, OK.
Game One
The Bucks found themselves in a 2-1 hole after the first inning play and would never recover, falling 10-4 in the first game of the afternoon at Cummings-Cecil Field. Besides a quiet game at the plate, the ladies committed 5 errors in the game, allowing 6 unearned runs. Olivia Nickson (Bentonville, AR) got the start and lasted 3.0 innings. The final line for Nickson (0-2) included giving up 8 runs but only 4 were earned. The freshmen stuck out a lone hitter and walked a pair on the day.
The ladies scored a run in the bottom of the first, third, fifth, and seventh innings. The 4 runs were plated on 5 hits. Madison Heller (Hughes Springs, TX) had a big game at the plate with a double and solo home run in the bottom of the third. Other Bucks that drove in runs included Lilli Williams (Granbury, TX), Kate Daigle (Rayne, LA), and Payton Hale (Fort Worth, TX).
Holly Raney (Mayflower, AR) pitched 3.0 innings in relief. The right hander gave up 2 unearned runs on 3 hits and struck out 3. Reagan Tucker (Waxachie, TX) pitched the final inning in relief.
Game Two
Wanting to salvage a split on the day, the Bucks found themselves in a pitcher's dual early on with McKenna Bittle (Greer's Ferry, AR) in the circle. She would surrender a run in the top of the first before helping her own cause with a RBI double in the bottom of the third inning. With the game tied at 1-1, the Lady Norse broke the tie with a 3-run fifth and added 2 more runs in the sixth.
The Bucks finally found their offense in the bottom of the sixth inning after struggling to drive in runs in scoring position throughout the day. After a lead off single and advancing to second on a wild pitch, Madie Rohre (Whitewright, TX) hit a RBI single to open the score. After a pair of outs, a single, and hit-by-pitch, Kate Daigle continued her day with a RBI single to load the bases. Next at-bat, Lilli Williams hit a bases clearing double to right centerfield to tie the game at 6-6.
With daylight becoming sparce, both teams held each other scoreless in the seventh. After a quick 1,2,3 inning by NEO in the top of the eighth, the Bucks found themselves with 2 outs in the bottom half. However, with a runner on first, Williams singled to put 2 runners on. Both advanced on a wild pitch into scoring position. Olivia Tefft (Frisco, TX) came to the plate and hit a line drive to left field to walk it off in extra innings for the Bucks, 7-6 in eight innings.
Bittle lasted 5.1 innings, giving up 6 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits. She would strike out 4 and walk a lone hitter on the day. In her second appearance of the day, Holly Raney (1-0) pitched 2.2 innings of scoreless ball. The freshmen gave up 1 run and struck out a pair to get her second win of the season.
The win brings the ladies record to 5-3 on the season. Next week, the Bucks are on the road on Monday against Central Baptist College's JV, before returning home on Wednesday against #9 Seminole State College. The ladies then hit the road for four games at the Coyote Chillout in Weatherford, TX next Friday and Saturday, February 23rd and 24th.
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