(April 21, 2022) El Dorado, AR – With three Region II series remaining this season, the Bucks held a 3-game lead over Western Oklahoma before Thursday's slate of games. This week's series would be with another in-state program, South Arkansas. The Stars are in their first season in school history and currently sit 10-10 in the region standings. The Bucks moved up three spots in the NJCAA DII Baseball Rankings to #17. 

GAME ONE

The Bucks would kickoff the scoring in the top of the first, plating 2 runs on bases loaded walks by Luke Rice (Scott, AR) and Cole Clark (Clarksville, AR) to take an early 2-0 lead, but the Stars plated 2 runs of their own in the bottom half to tie it at 2-2 off starting pitcher Drake Fontenot (Bossier City, LA).

The second inning would be scoreless before the Bucks plated 2 runs in the top of the third inning. Three walks loaded the bases with 1 out, and Brayden Sites (Sheridan, AR) delivered on a RBI single to center field. Next at-bat, Casey Shipley (Prairie Grove, AR) hit a RBI single on a ground ball to give the Bucks a 4-2 lead, but the Stars scratched across a run in the bottom half to make it 4-3.

The Bucks would then score 13 unanswered runs in the remaining four innings. Highlights of the 13 runs included a 3-run home run by Wesley Featherston (Hope, AR) in the top of the fourth and a solo homer by Luke Rice in the top of the seventh inning. Rice and Featherston led the Bucks in the contest with 9 RBIs between the corner infielders.

On the mound, Drake Fontenot (5-2) picked up his fifth win of the season in 5.0 innings of work. The right hander gave up 3 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits, while striking out 5 and walking 1 hitter. Cade Shrum (Greenwood, AR) and Noah Cantleberry (Chicago, IL) each pitched an inning a piece in the win.

GAME TWO

Looking to keep momentum going, the Bucks rolled out left hander Grant Shankle (Van Buren, AR) on the mound to start the 9-inning contest. He would hold the Stars scoreless in the first inning, and the Bucks got their offense going in the top of the second and would plate runs in the remaining 7 innings of the contest.

In the second, Wesley Featherston doubled and advanced to third on a ground out, before Brayden Sites groundout score him to make it 1-0. In the third inning, a walk, a single, and a passed ball put runners in scoring position for El Dorado local Chase Webb. He would ground out to pick up a RBI. Next at-bat, Luke Rice would do the same to plate a run to give the Bucks a 3-0 lead after three innings.

In the fourth, a bases loaded walks by Daniel Taylor (Rogers, AR) and Mason Reynolds (Fort Worth, TX) plated a pair of runs. Next at-bat, Chase Webb picked up a pair of RBIs, while reaching on an error to make it 7-0 after four innings.

The Bucks scratched across a run in the top of the fifth before Shankle gave up 4 runs in the bottom half. He would be chased from the game. Cooper Perry (Avinger, TX) entered the game and pitched the next 2.1 innings. The Bucks scored a pair of runs in the sixth on a bases loaded single by Luke Rice and a double play line drive by Wesley Featherston. The Stars answered with a run of their own to make it 10-5 after six innings.

The top of the seventh was highlighted by a Mason Reynolds RBI single, and a Wesley Featherston grand slam that gave the Bucks a 15-5 lead. The Bucks were looking to end the game in the seventh, but the Stars added a run to make it 15-6. However, the Bucks would hit a pair of solo homers by Daniel Taylor and Luke Rice in the top of the eighth to make it 17-6. Randy Little Jr. entered the game to pitch in the bottom half and put down the Stars in order. The Bucks won 17-6 in eight innings.

Grant Shankle (5-1) picked up his fifth win of the season in 4.2 innings of work. He would give up 4 runs on 8 hits, while striking out 3 and walking a pair. Cooper Perry worked 2.1 innings, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits. He would strikeout and walk a pair in the outing. Randy Little Jr. recorded 2 strikeouts in his inning of work.

The Bucks will go for the series win on Saturday at Union Bank Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm.

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