(March 10, 2024) Camden, AR – After a tough non-region loss on Wednesday at Northeast Texas, the ladies hit the road on Sunday morning for a region doubleheader against SAU Tech. The Bucks enter the contest 2-0 in region play, while the Rockets were 1-1 before the doubleheader.
Game One
Unlike Wednesday, the Bucks got the lead off runner on base and produced in the opening inning with a pair of runs. After a leadoff single, Kate Daigle (Rayne, LA) hit a RBI double in her first at-bat. Next at-bat, Lilli Williams (Granbury, TX) started her day with a RBI single.
The Bucks offense then went quiet for a pair of innings, and the Rockets plated their first run of the game in the bottom of the third inning. The run woke up the Bucks offense with a 3-run top of the fourth inning. After a single and stealing second, the ladies had a runner in scoring position with 1 out. Riley Lowery (Hughes Springs, TX) hit a RBI single to left field. After another out, Madie Rohre (Whitewright, TX) picked up a pair of RBIs on a single to centerfield to give the Bucks a 5-1 lead.
SAU Tech struck again in the bottom of the fifth on a double play ball to cut into the lead, but once again, the ladies answered with a 4-run top of the sixth inning. Three of the runs came off the bat of Lilli Williams. Williams hit a towering 3-run home run over the left centerfield fence. The other run came on a RBI single by Madison Heller (Hughes Springs, TX).
After holding off the Rockets in the bottom half, the ladies once again had a big inning in the top of the seventh. The first run came on a bunt attempt that resulted in Heller reaching and plating a run. Then, an error by the Rockets catcher allowed another run to score. After an out, Lilli Williams plated her 5th RBI on the day on a sac fly to centerfield to make the final score of 12-2.
In the circle, McKenna Bittle (Greer's Ferry, AR) went all 7.0 innings. In what wasn't her best day, the sophomore got the win by giving up 2 runs on 8 hits. Bittle (7-3) struck out 5 and walked 6 in the outing.
Game Two
The ladies continued their day at the plate with a 5-run top of the first inning. It was nothing fancy but singles up the middle for the Bucks. Wiliams and Rohre drove in a run a piece, followed by a Kamyrn Uher (Prairie Grove, AR) sac fly to right field. After a walk, Layla Baker (Minden, LA) scored a pair of a single to centerfield.
Uher was in the circle for the Bucks and held the Rockets at bay through the first three innings. The offense started up again in the top of the fourth. All runs were scored with 2 outs in the half inning. The scoring started with a pinch hit 2 RBI double by Payton Hale (Fort Worth, TX). Then, Baker continued her day with a RBI double to left centerfield to make it 8-0, but the Rockets scratched across a run in the bottom half to make it 8-1 after four innings.
After a scoreless fifth, the Rockets added a run in the bottom of the sixth on a solo home run. The Bucks scratched across a run in the top of the seventh on a Emma Reynolds (Cayuga, TX) RBI single to right field, and Uher stranded the bases loaded to get the 9-2 win.
Kamryn Uher (5-2) pitched all 7.0 innings, giving up 2 runs on 8 hits. She would strike out a lone hitter in the contest.
The ladies have the week off from games and return to action on Saturday, March 16th, at Carl Albert State College.
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