(April 9, 2022) Mena, Arkansas – Yesterday afternoon, the Bucks and Pioneers split a doubleheader that saw many lead changes, ties, and a pair of very entertaining fans. Both teams showed they could hit the ball all over the yard. Today's doubleheader could play a big role in the Region 2 Tournament seeding heading into May. Both teams are currently at the top of the region standings.

GAME ONE

Jackson Wells (Rogers, AR) got the start in the first of two games this afternoon and pitched a scoreless top of the first inning. In the bottom half, the Bucks got the bats going. Luke Rice (Scott, AR) came to the plate with the bases loaded and delivered on a 2-RBI line drive to right field to open the scoring. After an out, Cole Clark (Clarksville, AR) reached on a error that plated another Bucks run. After a walk that loaded the bases, a Casey Shipley (Prairie Grove, AR) hit by pitch plated a run before Jackson Baker (Sherwood, AR) hit a sacrifice fly to score Clark to make it 5-0 after an inning.

Wells surrendered 3 runs in the top of the second inning, but the Bucks answered in the bottom half. With 2 outs, Luke Rice doubled before Wesley Featherston hit a RBI triple to left field. Next at-bat, he would score on a Cole Clark double to the left center gap to make it 7-3 after two.

With both starting pitcher still intact, a pair of scoreless innings rolled by before the Pioneers added a run in the top of the fifth inning, and the Bucks stranded the bases loaded in the bottom half. After a scoreless top of the sixth, an error and a single put runners on with 2 outs for Cole Clark. He would then single to plate a run to increase the lead to 8-4 after six innings.

Daegan Covington (Taylor, AR) entered the contest in the seventh to pitch. He would surrender a pair of runs, but the Bucks would pick up the 8-6 win.

Jackson Wells (5-0) stayed perfect on the season with 6.0 innings pitched. He would give up 4 earned runs on 5 hits, while striking out 8 and walking 4 on the day.

GAME TWO

Coming back from an injury and making 2 appearances out of the bullpen this season, James McCormick (Benton, AR) made his first start of the season. His last start was last season in the Region 2 Tournament against Western Oklahoma. The Bucks won 7-3 in that contest. He would work a very efficient first inning with a double play and a pop up. In the bottom half, the Bucks took a 1-0 lead on a Luke Rice RBI single to right field.

After a scoreless top of the second, the Bucks plated a run on a sacrifice fly by Jackson Baker to make it 2-0. Western would cut the lead to 2-1 in the top of the third inning on a solo homer. After a scoreless bottom of the third and top of the fourth, the Bucks plated a run on a Cole Clark RBI line drive to center field to make it 3-1 after four.

Western added a run in each of the next three innings to take a 4-3 lead off McCormick, as his day was done after 7.0 innings of work. He would strikeout 8 hitters on the day with no walks. Cooper Perry (Avinger, TX) came on to pitch in the eighth inning and worked a 1, 2, 3 inning.

In the bottom half, Luke Rice doubled with 2 outs before Wesley Featherston (Hope, AR) traded places with him to tie the game at 4-4 after eight. Perry came on and once again worked a 1, 2, 3 inning to give the Bucks a chance in the bottom of the nineth, but the Bucks went down in order to send the game into extra innings.

Perry made short work of the Pioneers in the tenth and stranded runners in the eleventh and twelfth innings. With the bases loaded in the bottom half, Eli Garrison (Little Rock, AR) walked to pick up the winning RBI. Bucks win 5-4.

Cooper Perry (1-2) picked up the win in 5.0 innings of work, giving up no runs in relief.

The Bucks play again next week with a 4-game series with National Park.

#GOBUCKS