(April 1, 2024) Mena, Arkansas - Coming off a doubleheader loss to Murray State last weekend, the Bucks schedule would not get easier with hosting #8 Paris Junior College this afternoon at Cummings-Cecil Field. Last season, the Bucks split with the Lady Dragons in Paris. The ladies enter the day 17-12 overall and have a 6-4 record in region play.

Game One

The first game of the day was definitely a pitcher's dual for most of the game. Base runners were very limited for both teams through 4.0+ innings. Olivia Nickson (Bentonville, AR) got the start for the Bucks and worked ahead in a lot of her counts, getting weak contact from the Lady Dragons.

The Bucks offense scratched across a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. After a Madie Rohre (Whitewright, TX) down the right field line, Olivia Nickson helped her own cause with a RBI double of her own to make it a 1-0 lead for the Bucks. After a scoreless top of the sixth, the ladies came back to the plate looking to extend their lead and would. With 1 out, the Bucks reached on back-to-back errors to bring Emma Reynolds (Cayuga, TX) to the plate. The left hander belted the first pitch she saw over the right centerfield wall to extend the Bucks lead to 4-0 after six innings.

Nickson returned in the seventh and walked a hitter with 2 outs, but a hard ground ball to right field resulted in an out at first base to end the game. Bucks winning 4-0. 

Olivia Nickson (1-3) pitched a complate game, 7.0 innings. The right hander allowed 0 runs on 1 hit, while striking out 4 in the outing. 

Game Two

 The second game of the day was much like the first, being a pitcher's dual. The Bucks struggled offensively, as the Lady Dragon's pitcher kept the Bucks off balance at the plate. Paris plated their runs in the top of the second and third innings to take a 3-0 lead over the Bucks. 

The ladies kept fighting and found some offensive production in the final inning of the game. A lead off Nickson single and a 1-out Holly Raney (Mayflower, AR) double put runners scoring position for the Bucks. Next at-bat, Olivia Tefft (Frisco, TX) grounded out to the right side to plate the Bucks only run of the game. The ladies fell 3-1 to split with the 8th ranked Lady Dragons. 

McKenna Bittle (Greer's Ferry, AR) got the start in the circle and last 2.2 innings. Bittle (9-5) would get the loss on the day. Kamryn Uher (Prairie Grove, AR) came on in relief and through 4.1 innings of scoreless ball. The freshmen gave up 5 hits and struck out a lone hitter in relief. 

The ladies now turn their attention back to region play with a home doubleheader on Thursday against North Arkansas, followed by a road doubleheader at ASU Mountain Home on Saturday. First pitch on Thursday is scheduled for 1 pm at Cummings-Cecil Field. 

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