(February 21, 2023) Wilburton, Oklahoma - Coming off a winning their home doubleheader on Saturday against ASU Mountain Home, the Bucks loaded the bus for the first time this season and headed just over the border to take on the Mountaineers. This is the first of four single 9-inning contests this season for the Bucks against Eastern. The ball clubs will rotate home and home this season for midweek contests.

The Bucks trailed in the game after two innings, but scratched across runs in the third and fourth innings to take a 2-1 lead mid-way through the fourth inning. After a Jimmy Mathis (Grandview, TX) double, Cooper White (Benton, AR) traded places with the freshmen to even the game at 1-1 in the top of the third. In the next inning, Casey Shipley (Prairie Grove, AR) led off with a double before advancing on a wild pitch. He would later score on a ground out to the right side by Luke Crumpler (Bentonville, AR) to make it 2-1. 

The lead was short lived for the Bucks as Eastern added a run in the bottom of the fourth. The Mountaineers would then add a total of 6 runs in the next four innings. The Bucks were only able to produce a run in the top of the seventh inning. After a walk, an out, and a single, Casey Shipley singled on hard ground ball up the middle, but the Bucks would fall in the 9-inning contest 8-3.

The Bucks used four pitchers on the bump in the game. Jack Henry Pettit (Brookland, AR) got the start for the Bucks, lasting 4.0 innings. Ashton Perkins (Pearland, TX) came on in relief and pitched 2.0 innings. Perkins (0-1) would get the loss in the game, giving up 3 runs (1 earned) on 2 hits. He would strike out a lone hitter and walked a pair in the loss. 

The men return to action in a week at home against Arkansas Tech University JV. The doubleheader is scheduled to start at 12 pm on Monday, February 27th. 

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