(March 27, 2021) Altus, Oklahoma – After splitting on Friday afternoon, the Bucks and Pioneers faced off again this morning on the campus of Western Oklahoma State College. After losing game 3 4-0, the Bucks picked up the series split with a 9-8 win in game 4. The split brings the Bucks record to 13-11 and 2-2 in region play.

Game 1

Through 3 innings, the Bucks went in order to start the game. James McCormick (Benton, AR) got the start on the mound. He too would hold the Pioneers scoreless through 3 innings. The Bucks threatened in the top of the 4^th inning. After a single and hit-by-pitch, Wesley Featherston (Hope, AR) hit a sac bunt to move runners to 2^nd and 3^rd. But, the Bucks would ground into a double play to end the top half. In the bottom half, the Pioneers picked up 2 runs to lead 2-0 after 4 innings.

In the top of the 5^th, Preston Lee (Maumelle, AR) reached on a 2-out single, but a fielder's choice ended the inning. McCormick got all three outs in a different variety…a fly out, strike out, and ground out to end the 5^th inning. Bucks still trailed 2-0.

After another scoreless top half of the inning, McCormick retired the first hitters before giving up a single. Next at-bat, WOSC would get a double then another single to add 2 runs to their lead. The Bucks would have to have a big inning in the 7^th to extend the game.

With 1 out, Luke Rice (Scott, AR) singled and Dan Taylor (Rogers, AR) was hit by a pitch to put runners on 1^st and 2^nd. However, a fly out to centerfield would end the game. Bucks fall 4-0 in the rubber match.

James McCormick (1-3) went the distance for the Bucks. He gave up 4 runs on 8 hits, while striking out a pair in the loss.

Game 2

The Bucks looked to rebound and split the series with the Pioneers in game 4. In the top of the 1^st, Mason Reynolds (Fort Worth, TX) singled before Andrew Almendarez (Tomball, TX) was hit by a pitch. Both advanced 90 feet on a pass ball, before Luke Rice was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Reynolds scored on a Dan Taylor walk. With 2 outs, the Bucks added another on a balk by the Pioneer pitcher. In the bottom half, Randy Little Jr. (Pine Bluff, AR) got the start on the mound and put the Pioneers down in order. Bucks led 2-0 after an inning.

The Bucks got a couple on in the top of the 2^nd, but both were stranded. In the bottom half, Little Jr. stranded a couple himself to keep the Bucks lead at 2-0. Luke Rice led off with a double to right field in the top of the 3^rd inning. After a Dan Taylor hit by pitch and Eli Garrison (North Little Rock, AR) single, the bases were loaded for Preston Lee. He would walk to plate Rice.  With the bases still loaded, Tristan Doucet (Lake Arthur, LA) hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to plate Taylor. A flyout would ended the half inning, but the Bucks increased their lead to 4-0. Little Jr. once again held the Pioneers scoreless in the bottom half.

The Bucks went in order in the 4^th, and the Pioneers threaten with runners on 2^nd and 3^rd. However, Randy Little Jr. was able to get a strikeout to end the inning. In the top of the 5^th, Eli Garrison hit a 1 out single to left field, but a strikeout and fielder's choice ended the top half. Little Jr. gave up a 2 out walk and a single before getting a strikeout to end the 5^th. Bucks still lead 4-0.

In the top of the 6^th, the Bucks were hit by a pitch, drew a walk, and hit by another pitch the load the bases. With 1 out, Luke Rice picked up a RBI on a fielder's choice to plate Doucet. Mason Reynolds took home after a pickoff attempt at first base. During that at-bat, Dan Taylor hit a RBI double to score Rice. Taylor didn't stay at 2^nd long as Eli Garrison hit a RBI single to increase the Bucks lead to 8-0. Randy Little Jr. once again stranded a couple runners to leave the score the same.

In the 7^th, the Bucks went scoreless, and Randy Little Jr. was chased from the game with runners on 1^st and 2^nd. Grant Shankle (Van Buren, AR) made his first relief appearance of the season. After a single, the Bucks called upon Cade Shrum (Greenwood, AR) to halt the Pioneers threat with the bases loaded. Shrum surrendered 2 runs before Carson Crawford (Humnoke, AR) came on in relief with no outs and a runner on 2nd. He got 2 outs, before a couple Bucks errors allowed the Pioneers to cut into the lead. After 7, Bucks hang on to their lead, 8-6.

With 1 out in the 8^th, Luke Rice reached 3^rd base on an error. With 2 outs, Rice scored on a wild pitch to gain a run back after the 7^th. Western picked up 2 runs to cut the Bucks lead to 1 run heading into the final frame, 9-8. Crawford shut the door with 3 groundouts to seal the Bucks win.

The Bucks would strand runners at 1^st and 2^nd base to head into the bottom of the 9^th with a 1 run lead.

In the win, Randy Little Jr. (2-0) threw 6 innings giving up 2 runs and 7 hits, while striking out 6 and walking 2. Picking up his first save, Carson Crawford pitched 3 innings giving up 3 runs (1 earned) on 2 hits and walked and struck out a pair.

The Bucks play again at home on Tuesday, March 30^th, against Eastern Oklahoma State College. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm.

#GOBUCKS