(February 21, 2024) Mena, Arkansas - Coming off a sweep of Central Baptist College's JV on Monday, the Bucks returned to Cummings-Cecil Field to take on the 9th ranked Seminole State Trojans. The Bucks have played the Trojans each of the 3 prior seasons and haven't beaten Seminole State. The ladies enter the contest 7-3 on the young season.

Game One

The Bucks broke the losing streak to the tradition rich Trojans in the first game of the doubleheader, which turned out to be a pitcher's dual. The Trojans went through 3 pitchers in the contest, but McKenna Bittle (Greer's Ferry, AR) went the distance for the Bucks. The right hander threw 7.0 innings, giving up an unearned run on 3 hits. Bittle (4-1) struck out a lone hitter in the Bucks 2-1 win over the ranked Trojans. The Trojans scored their only run of the game in the top of the seventh inning.

The Bucks plated a run in each of the third and fifth innings. In the third, Olivia Tefft (Frisco, TX) reached on error with 2 outs and two runners on base to score JJ Bass (Joaquin, TX). In the fifth, Lilli Williams (Granbury, TX) hit a 1-out single to score Madison Heller (Hughes Springs, TX). Heller reached on a single to lead off the inning and stole second base before advancing on a ground out.

The win marked the Bucks first win over Seminole State in school history, in all sports.

Game Two

The Bucks wanted to keep the momentum going in the second game, but Seminole took a 4-0 lead after two innings of play. The Bucks continued to battle through the game but were limited to 3 hits in the contest up until the last inning. Seminole plated an additional run in the top of the sixth inning to make it 5-0.

It came down to the last inning, and the ladies needed to rally to give themselves a chance. Williams singled on the first pitch she seen to lead off the inning, followed by Tefft and Madie Rohre (Whitewright, TX) singling to load the bases. Next at-bat, Kamryn Uher (Prairie Grove, AR) pinch hit and hit a hard ground ball to centerfield to pick up a 2-RBI double. After a walk reloaded the bases, Layla Baker (Minden, LA) hit a sac fly to make it 5-3 with only 1 out. Then, JJ Bass came to the plate and burnt the left fielder on a RBI double to keep the lineup moving. After an out and a walk, Lilli Williams returned to the plate looking to finish what she started in the inning. Once again, Williams hit the first pitch she seen in the at-bat for a 2-RBI double to walk-it off once again for the Bucks, 6-5. 

The Bucks went through four pitchers in the game, but the winning pitcher only pitched 0.2 innings. Payton Hale (Fort Worth, TX) entered the game and got a pair of ground outs to strand a Trojans runner. Hale (1-0) picked up her first win of the season by only throwing 10 pitches. 

The sweep moves the Bucks to 9-3 on the season. 

Next up, the ladies travel to Weatherford, TX for a pair of doubleheaders against Weatherford College and Navarro College in the Coyote Chillout. First game is scheduled for 2 pm on Friday and 10 am on Saturday.

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