(March 10, 2022) Mena, Arkansas – After winning one of three games last weekend against Mineral Area, the Bucks were back at home to begin Region 2 conference play this afternoon. The Bucks and Mavs are slated to play a 4-game series that concludes this weekend in Tonkawa, OK.
GAME ONE
Looking to pick up his first win of the season, starting pitcher Drake Fontenot (Bossier City, LA) got the start on the bump to begin region play. After striking out the side in the top of the first, the Bucks would plate a couple to take an early 2-0 lead. After a lead off single and advancing to second, Chase Webb (El Dorado, AR) would hit a RBI single to left field to get things started with 1 out. Next at-bat, Luke Rice (Scott, AR) hit a RBI double to centerfield to plate Webb.
Fontenot was comfortable and rolling through four innings, putting up zeros on the scoreboard. The Bucks added a run in the bottom of the third and fourth innings to increase their lead to 4-0. In the third, a lead off walk led to a runner being on third base for Chase Webb. He would hit a sac fly to make it 3-0. Then, Brayden Sites (Sheridan, AR) hit a lead off solo home run in the bottom of the fourth to make it 4-0.
The Mavs picked up 2-runs on a home run off Fontenot in the top of the fifth. Cooper Perry (Avinger, TX) entered the contest to begin the sixth inning with a 4-2 lead. He would put up zeros on the scoreboard in the sixth and seventh innings to pick up his first save of the season. Perry recorded a strikeout and walk in his 2 innings of work.
The Bucks would add run in the bottom of the sixth with the bases loaded for Daniel Taylor (Rogers, AR). Dan singled to left field to make it 5-2, which would be the final score.
Drake Fontenot (1-0) picked up his first win on the season. Fontenot gave up 2 runs on 4 hits, while striking out 9 and only walking a lone hitter.
GAME TWO
Grant Shankle (Van Buren, AR) got the start on the hill Game Two, looking to keep the Bucks momentum going. He would do just that, going 7 innings in the contest. Shankle gave up 0 runs on just 2 hits, while striking out 5 and walking a lone hitter.
The Bucks jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. After a 2-out triple by Chase Webb, Luke Rice would hit a RBI single to right field. The score remained 1-0 until the bottom of the fourth inning. The Bucks added 2 runs in each of the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings.
In the fourth, Andrew Almendarez (Tomball, TX) reached on a 1-out error that allowed a run to score. After a hit-by-pitch, Brayden Sites continued his day with a ground ball to left field that scored Almendarez. An inning later, Chase Webb singled with two runners on to plate a run. After an out, Andrew Almendarez once again reached on an error that allowed a run to score to make it 5-0. Next inning with bases loaded and 2 outs, Luke Rice hit a 2 RBI single to right field to make it 7-0 after six innings.
Shankle pitched a scoreless seventh before being relieved by Cade Shrum (Greenwood, AR) in the top of the eighth. Cade worked a scoreless eighth and nineth innings, while striking out 1 hitter.
The Bucks added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning off the bat of Chase Webb with 2 runners on. The RBI single made the final score 8-0 in nine innings.
Grant Shankle (3-1) got the win in the outing.
#GOBUCKS