(April 22, 2021) Tishomingo, Oklahoma – Coming off a region series win against NOC-Enid last weekend, the Bucks looked to continue their momentum against Murray State College.
Game 1
Leading it off for the Bucks, Mason Reynolds (Fort Worth, TX) singled to center followed by a Cole Clark (Clarksville, AR) double. After a strikeout, Luke Rice (Scott, AR) grounded out to the right side to plate Reynolds to make it 1-0 Bucks. Maddox Long (Morrilton, AR) put down the Aggies in order to keep the 1-0 lead through an inning.
After a scoreless 2nd inning, the Aggies got plated 3 runs in the bottom of the 3rd to take the lead 3-1 after 3 innings. In the 4th, Dan Taylor (Rogers, AR) hit a solo bomb to centerfield to cut into the lead. In the bottom of the 4th, the Aggies score 3 runs with 2 outs to extend their lead to 6-2 after 4 innings.
In the final innings, neither team got any offensive production going, and the Bucks would fall 6-2 innings.
Throwing a complete game, Maddox Long (5-3) threw 6 innings, giving up 6 runs (5 earned) on 6 hits. He would strikeout 7 and walk 3.
Game 2
Grant Shankle (Van Buren, AR) got the start on the mound for the Bucks. The Aggies would plate 4 runs through the first 3 innings of the game to have a 4-0 lead. The Bucks were able to pick up 3 runs in the 4th inning. Wesley Featherston (Hope, AR) reached on an error and advanced on a pass ball during the next at-bat. Eli Garrison (North Little Rock, AR) would walk. Both advanced on a wild pitch before Isaac Price (Siloam Springs, AR) delivered on an RBI single to centerfield. Preston Lee (Maumelle, AR) kept it going with another RBI single to centerfield. With runners on 1st and 2nd, a sac bunt advanced the runners before Cole Clark hit a sac fly to centerfield to score Price. The run cut the lead to 4-3.
Shankle settled in and put up zeros in the bottom of the 4th and 5th innings before he gave up a run in the 6th and 2 runs in the 7th before being chased from the game. Cooper Perry (Avinger, TX) came on in relief. He would throw 1.1 innings, only allowing a hit. Unfortunately, the Bucks would not produce anymore runs and fall 7-3 in game 2.
In the loss, Grant Shankle (5-3) threw 6.2 innings, giving up 7 runs on 10 hits while striking out 5 and walking 1.
The Bucks return to action on Saturday against Murray State at Union Bank Field in Mena.
#GOBUCKS