(March 4, 2023) Mena, Arkansas - Coming off a split on Monday against Arkansas Tech's JV, the Bucks continued their home stand this weekend with a 3-game series against Mineral Area. The Bucks enter the day 4-5 on the season, while the Cardinals are 9-6. Mineral Area is a NJCAA Division I school that plays in Region 16. This is the last regular season weekend for the Bucks. The men begin Region play next week against NOC-Enid. 

Game One

The Bucks wanted to play with energy on the day and start fast in the initial contest. After a lead off walk and advancing on a wild pitch, Trevor Flake (North Little Rock, AR) advanced on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a ground out. Next at-bat, Brayden Sites (Sheridan, AR) singled on a ball to left field to score Flake to give the Bucks a 1-0. The lead was short lived as the Cardinals scored a run in the top of the second, and again in the fourth and fifth innings.

The Bucks went scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning and were looking to erase the Cardinals 3-1 lead. With an out, the Bucks hit back-to-back-to-back singles to load the bases for Casey Shipley (Prairie Grove, AR). The Central Arkansas commit delivered in a big way with a 3-RBI triple in the right center field gap to give the Bucks a 4-3 lead heading into the final frame. 

Jack Henry Pettit (Brookland, AR) came on in relief to start the fifth inning and lasted 2.1 innings. Petit (1-1) gave up an unearned run on 2 hits. The freshmen struck out 1 and walked a pair. His day ended with an out and two runners on first and second in the top of the seventh. Aden Almeida (Rogers, AR) entered the contest and recorded a popout and ground out to seal the Bucks 4-3 win. He also picked up his first save of the season.

Starting pitcher Deuce Yaksick (Frisco, TX) lasted 4.0 innings, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits. The freshmen walked 3 on the day.

Game Two

Looking for the series win, the Bucks found themselves down 1-0 after an opening frame solo home run by the Cardinals. The Bucks got the game back to even in the bottom of the second inning. After a single, walk, and a double play, Brett Justice (Jacksonville, AR) hit a line drive over the centerfielder's head to pick up a RBI to even the game at 1 a piece. The rest of the game was controlled by the Cardinals. Mineral Area scsored a run in the top of the third and fifth innings. Then, the visitors added a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to win 5-1 in seven innings. The Bucks got out hit in the contest 6 to 3.

Starting pitcher Kirk Martinson (0-1) lasted 4.0 innings, giving up 2 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits. He would strikeout and walk 3 a piece in the outing. Jackson Wilson (Palestine, AR) came on to pitch the final 3.0 innings. The sophomore left hander gave up 3 runs on 3 hits, while striking out 1 and walking 3 in the outing.

The rubber match begins tomorrow at 12 pm at Union Bank Field. The Bucks and Cardinals will play a single 9-inning contest. 

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