(March 15, 2021) Mena, Arkansas – After their wins over the weekend, the Bucks took to the diamond once again on Monday afternoon at Union Bank Field at McMillan Park. The opponent was Henderson State's JV squad. The Bucks would pick up their 11th win of the season, 11-1 in 7 innings.
James McCormick (Benton, AR) got the start on the mound for the Bucks. He gave up back-to-back walks to start the inning, but he only surrendered a run after an error. In the bottom half of the opening inning, the Bucks got that run back plus a couple more. Chase Webb (El Dorado, AR) would hit a lead off double to get things started. Isaac Price (Siloam Springs, AR) entered the game in place of Webb. With 2 outs, Luke Rice (Scott, AR) singled to left field to score Price. Next at-bat, Dan Taylor (Rogers, AR) hit a RBI double, scoring Rice from first. Taylor advanced to 3rd on an error that allowed Preston Lee (Maumelle, AR) to reach first. Mason Reynolds (Fort Worth, TX) picked up a RBI on his own on a single to left field. Bucks led 3-1 after 1.
McCormick settled in and put down the Reddies in order, including 2 strikeouts. The Bucks added 5 runs in the bottom of the frame. After back-to-back hits, Wesley Featherston (Hope, AR) singled between 1st and 2nd base to plate Price. Luke Rice continued his hot streak with a line drive to right field to score Clark. Taylor reached on a error that plated Featherston and allowed Rice to advance to 3rd. With 2 outs and runners on the corners, Mason Reynolds picked up his 2nd RBI on the day on a single, plating Rice. To end the scoring in the inning, Rylee Huie (Pottsville, AR) singled to plate Taylor. Bucks led 8-1 after 2.
McCormick stranded a runner in the 3rd and stranded runners on the corners in the top of the 4th. But, the Bucks stranded a runner in the bottom half of the 4th.
In the top of the 5th, Keelan Hodge (Junction City, AR) came in on relief. Hodge would give up a triple and a hit-by-pitch, but he would strand both runners with 2 strikeouts and a ground out. In the bottom of the frame with 2 outs and 2 runners on, Wesley Featherston delivered with his 4th homer of the season picking up 3 RBIs. Bucks increased their lead, 11-1, after 5.
Neither team got anything going in the 6th. Hodge got a double play ball to end the game in the top of the 7th. Bucks win 11-1
In the start, James McCormick (1-2) picked up his first win of the season. He threw 4 innings, giving up an unearned run on 1 hit while fanning 7 and walking 4. In his relief appearance, Keelan Hodge gave up no runs on 1 hit, while striking out 4 and walking 1.
The Bucks are scheduled to play again in their conference opener on March 25th in Altus, Oklahoma.
#GOBUCKS