(March 4, 2022) Mena, Arkansas – After a successful trip to USA Baseball Stadium in Millington, Tennessee last weekend, the Bucks had a week off before returning to action at home for a 3-game series with Mineral Area College. The Bucks and Cardinals met last season at Morrilton High School, where Mineral Area took all three games. The Bucks and Cardinals were slated for two 7-inning contest this afternoon at Union Bank Field.
GAME ONE
Drake Fontenot (Bossier City, LA) got the start on the bump for the Bucks to begin the game. He would throw 6.2 innings in the no decision, giving up 3 runs on 6 hits. The Delta State signee would record 6 strikeouts and 1 walk in the outing.
The Bucks wanted to start fast and would scratch across a run in the bottom half of the first. After a Dan Taylor (Rogers, AR) leadoff single and advancing on a passed ball on the next pitch, Luke Rice (Scott, AR) would pick up a 2-out RBI double to give the Bucks a 1-0 lead after one.
After a scoreless inning and a half, the Bucks looked to capitalize with the first two runners of the inning reaching on a single and an error. Mason Reynolds (Fort Worth, AR) snuck one down the third base line that plated a run. With 1 out, Luke Rice picked up his second RBI on the day on a line drive to right field. The Bucks would strand the bases loaded but extended the lead to 3-0 after three.
Both teams went scoreless in the middle innings. Mineral Area pushed across a run in the top of the seventh with 2 outs and two runners on, chasing Fontenot from the game. Relief pitcher Cooper Perry (Avinger, TX) would enter the game. He would give up 3 runs (2 earned) as the Cardinals plated 6 runs in the top of the seventh inning. In the bottom half, the Bucks would ground into the double play to end the game to fall 6-3.
Cooper Perry (0-1) took the loss in the 0.1 inning of work.
GAME TWO
Grant Shankle (Van Buren, AR) got the start in the second game of the doubleheader. He would throw 2.0 innings in the start, striking out and walking 3 hitters a piece. Shankle gave up 4 runs on 3 hits.
In the top of the first, Shankle gave up a 2-run homer. The Bucks would respond in the bottom half. After a lead off single by Andrew Almendarez (Tomball, TX), Cooper White (Benton, AR) ripped a RBI triple down the right field line to score Almendarez from first. With 1 out, White would score on a wild pitch to tie the game at 2-2.
After a scoreless second inning, Shankle would be chased from the game with runners on first and second. Keelan Hodge (Junction City, AR) would enter the game in relief. Despite a couple strikeouts for Hodge, the Cardinals plated 3 runs to retake the lead, 5-2. Hodge threw a scoreless fourth inning, ending his day. He would give up 1 unearned run on 3 hits, while striking out 3 and walking 2 hitters.
After the scoreless fourth inning, Cade Shrum (Greenwood, AR) came on in relief to start the fifth inning and recorded three strikeouts in the inning. The Bucks would use his momentum in the bottom half, With two runners on, Isaac Price (Siloam Springs, AR) would hit a RBI single to right field. A walk loaded the bases before another walk plated a run for the Bucks. Cole Clark (Clarksville, AR) then came to the plate and hit a sacrifice fly to left field to tie the game at 5 runs apiece after five innings.
The Cardinals answered in the top half of the inning with a run to retake the lead off Shrum. The Bucks went scoreless in the bottom half. Shrum's day was done on the hill. He gave up 1 unearned run in 2.0 innings of work, while striking out 3 hitters.
To start the seventh inning, Dakota Frachiseur (Grannis, AR) entered the game in relief. He would give up 3 runs in the top half and walked 2 hitters. The Bucks didn't plate anything in the bottom half and fell 9-5 in the contest.
Cade Shrum (1-2) took the loss in the game.
The Bucks and Cardinals conclude the series tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is set for 1 pm at Union Bank Field.
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