(January 29^th) Paris, Texas – The era of Rich Mountain Bucks Baseball began this evening at Paris Junior College. The Bucks would pick up their first win in school history, 8-4. The win also marked Coach Lance Spigner's first collegiate win.

In the top of the 1^st inning, Cole Clark (Clarksville, AR) recorded the first hit in school history on a single, but the Bucks couldn't muster any offense. Ouachita Baptist transfer Maddox Long (Morrilton, AR) would get the start on the mound and kept the Dragons on their heels with 7 strikeouts through 5 innings. The Bucks would strand 3 runners in the top of the 2^nd inning and strand 2 runners in the 4^th inning and could not capitalize until the top of the 6^th inning.

Daegan Covington (Taylor, AR) got it going with a single and advanced on a pass ball that led to Mason Reynolds' (Forth Worth, TX) 2 out single that started the scoring for the Bucks. Reynolds would score during Chase Webb's at bat on a throwing error by the Dragon's catcher. The lead was short lived when #28 Hayden Johnson would come through on a 2 out grand slam for the Dragons in the bottom half. The Dragons would lead 4-2 after 6 innings.

The Bucks would fight back in the 7^th inning and take the lead. After a Luke Hindman (Sherwood, AR) single and a balk on the Dragon's pitcher, Luke Rice (Scott, AR) singled, and Dan Taylor (Rogers, AR) would come through with a RBI single scoring Hindman. Taylor would steal 2^nd and a couple of walks led to Mason Reynolds coming through with a 2 RBI single. Grant Shankle (Van Buren, AR) came on in relief for Long. Shankle would get out of the inning unscathed.

In the 8^th inning, the Bucks offense continued to heat up scoring 3 more runs. Led by Taylor (1 RBI), Eli Garrison (North Little Rock, AR) (1 RBI), and Reynolds with his 4^th RBI of the evening. Grant Shankle threw a 5-pitch 8^th inning.

The Bucks went scoreless in the 9^th. Shankle put down the Dragons in order to end the 9^th inning.

Maddox Long got the win with 6 innings pitched, 9 strikeouts, 1 walk, and a hit-by-pitch. Shankle threw 3 innings of scoreless ball to close out the game.

The Bucks play again tomorrow, January 30^th, at 1 pm and 4 pm in a doubleheader against Paris JC.

#GOBUCKS