(May 5, 2024) Mena, Arkansas - Bucks Softball wrapped up their regular season yesterday at North Arkansas. After winning the first game 11-5, the storms set in, and the Bucks had to move to a different field. The ladies overcame the delay and won 10-1 to get the season sweep over North Arkansas. The wins gave the Bucks a new school record of 32 wins in the regular season. The ladies finished the regular season at 32-17 overall, while finishing as the Region 2 Regular Season Runner-Ups.
Season Highlights
- The ladies took down a pair of NJCAA DI ranked programs: #9 Seminole State 2-1 and 6-5 & #8 Paris Junior College 3-1.
- The Bucks were ranked #13 in NJCAA DII Softball Rankings on February 26th.
- Earlier this season, the Bucks surpassed the century mark in school history. This included Coach Tracy Nealy's 100th win as a college coach.
This season, the ladies have several multiple season and career records.
- JJ Bass (Joaquin, TX) broke her own season record for stolen bases with 29 total this season. She also broke the career record with a total 46 in her career before the tournament. Bass will be playing at Delta State University in 2025.
- Emma Reynolds (Cayuga, TX) broke not only the season record for triples, but she broke the career record for triples with 10 so far this season. She is a freshmen that is set to return in 2025.
- Lilli Williams (Granbury, TX) broke the single season and career hit-by-pitches record with 13 this season.
- McKenna Bittle (Greer's Ferry, AR) broke the single season wins record with 16 wins in the circle in 2024. She also is on pace to set the new single season ERA record. She currently has a 2.29 ERA this season. She will be playing at Williams Baptist College next season.
Tournament Preview
- With their runner-up finish in the regular season, the ladies will be the #2 seed in the Region 2/Southwest District Championship this coming week, May 9th-12th, in Ardmore, Oklahoma. The Bucks will draw the same team they finished the regular season against, #7 North Arkansas. The ladies swept North Arkansas in the regular season: 11-3, 7-6, 11-5, and 10-1.
- The Bucks will match-up with the winner/loser of the #3 National Park versus #6 Carl Albert matchup in the next round. The ladies took three out of four games from each team in the regular season.
- The region tournament will also serve as the NJCAA DII Softball Southwest District Tournament. Winner advances the NJCAA DII Softball World Series in Spartanburg, South Carolina on May 20th - 25th, 2024.
- The tournament is a double elimination tournament.
- First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 pm against North Arkansas at Regional Park in Ardmore.
- Livestreaming for the tournament can be found at www.np.edu/live.
Tournament Bracket & Times
Thursday, May 9th
Game 1 - 11 am - #4 Western OK State vs. #5 SAU Tech
Game 2 - 1:30 pm - #2 UA Rich Mountain vs. #7 North Arkansas
Game 3 - 4 pm - #1 Murray State vs. #8 ASU Mountain Home
Game 4 - 6:30 pm - #3 National Park vs. #6 Carl Albert
Friday, May 10th
Game 5 - 11 am - G1 Loser vs. G3 Loser
Game 6 - 1:30 pm - G2 Loser vs. G4 Loser
Game 7 - 4 pm - G2 Winner vs. G4 Winner
Game 8 - 6:30 pm - G1 Winner vs. G3 Winner
Saturday, May 11th
Game 9 - 11 am - G5 Winner vs. G7 Loser
Game 10 - 1:30 pm - G6 Winner vs. G8 Loser
Game 11 - 4 pm - G7 Winner vs. G8 Winner
Game 12 - 6:30 pm - G9 Winner vs. G10 Winner
Sunday, May 12th
Game 13 - 11 am - G11 Loser vs. G12 Winner
Championship Game - 2 pm - G11 Winner vs. G13 Winner
If Neccessary - 5 pm - G14 Winner vs. G14 Loser
#DefendTheMountain