(May 17, 2021) Enid, Oklahoma – After advancing in the opening round with a 2-0 win over North Central Missouri, the Bucks would face Western Oklahoma State College. In the first region series of the year, the Bucks and Pioneers split in Altus.

James McCormick (Benton, AR) got the start for the Bucks on the mound and held the Pioneers scoreless through five innings. The Bucks gave him some run support in the bottom of the third. With 1 out, Chase Webb (El Dorado, AR) singled before a walk and hit-by-pitch loaded the bases. With Dan Taylor (Rogers, AR) at-bat, he was hit by another pitch to plate Webb. After an infield fly, Preston Lee (Maumelle, AR) scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-0 in favor of the Bucks.

After another scoreless inning by McCormick in the fourth, the Bucks got a lead off homer from Wesley Featherston (Hope, AR) to right field to increase the lead to 3-0. In the bottom of the fifth, Dan Taylor doubled off the centerfield wall with 1 out and advanced to third base on a ground out. He would then score on throwing error by the catcher after a pitch to make it 4-0.

Western scratched across a run in the top of the sixth, but the Bucks would match it. Wesley Featherston led off with a double. Then, Eli Garrison (North Little Rock, AR) singled to put runners on the corners. Cole Clark (Clarksville, AR) came to the plate and bunt a ball that was picked up on the first base line to score Featherston to make it 5-1. The Bucks left the bases loaded to end the inning. In the top of the seventh, Western took advance of Bucks errors to cut into the lead, 5-2, after seven innings.

James McCormick walked a hitter with 2 outs in the eighth, but he got a strike out to get out unscathed. In the bottom half, Cole Clark led off with a line drive to right centerfield. Chase Webb then singled and advanced to second base on the throw to third. After a hit-by-pitch on Preston Lee, Mason Reynolds elevated one to right center to play Clark on the sac fly. Webb advanced to third. After walk to reload the bases, Daegan Covington (Taylor, AR) grounded out and picked up the RBI to give the Bucks a 7-2 lead heading into the last inning.

Drake Fontenot (Bossier City, LA) came on to pitch the final inning for the Bucks and put down the Pioneers in order to seal the win, 7-2.

In the win, James McCormick pitched 8 innings, giving up 2 runs (1 earned) while striking out 8 hitters.

The Bucks play again tomorrow at 4 pm against NOC-Enid at David Allen Memorial Park. The game can be live streamed on YouTube, search "Bravado Wireless."

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