(March 10, 2024) West Memphis, Arkansas – Winners of 5 of their last 6 games, the Bucks find themselves on a hot streak to begin region play. The Bucks concluded the region series with ASU Mid-South this afternoon at Tilden Rodgers Park. The Bucks took the single game on Wednesday at Union Bank Field, 18-6.
Game One
The Bucks started where they left off on Wednesday. The Bucks scored at least a run in all seven innings in the 16-2 win over the Greyhounds. The win gave the Bucks the series win. On the mound, Clint Lafferty (Seguin, TX) got the start and threw all 7.0 innings. He would give up 2 runs on 6 hits, while striking out 7 on the day. Lafferty (2-2) evened his season record in the win.
The Bucks were tough outs at the plate, but none tougher than leadoff Cody Hayes (Corsicana, TX). Hayes was perfect in the game, scoring 3 runs and driving in a pair of runs. Three other Bucks drove in 2 runs on the day: Ian Smith (Bismarck, AR), Aiden McGinnis (Jasper, AL), and Diego Archila (Baton Rouge, LA). Jack Bilski (La Porte, TX) and Brett Justice (Jacksonville, AR) each had 3 hits in the contest.
Overall, the Bucks collected 15 hits in the contest, while walking 6 times and were hit by 6 pitches in the game. The men also stole 9 bases in the contest. Justice and Caleb Bryant (North Little Rock, AR) led with a pair of stolen bags.
The win gave the Bucks their 100th win in school history for the program.
Game Two
The last game of the series had similar results to the first games with the Bucks winning 15-2, but ASU Mid-South did show some fight through the first six innings of the contest. The Bucks trailed 2-1 after an inning, but after tying the game in the top of the second, the men scored 12 in the final three innings of the contest to get the series sweep over the Greyhounds.
Austin Rainey (Conway, AR) pitched 5.1 innings, giving up 2 runs on 4 hits. Rainey (3-1) struck out 9 in the contest and walked 6 on the mound. The Bucks threw three other pitchers in the game, and the trio combined for 8 strikeouts and 3 walks, giving up 0 runs.
Offensively, the Bucks collected 14 hits in the contest. Five men each had multiple hits in the game: Hayes, Bilski, McGinnis, Bryant, and Justice. No hit in the game was bigger than Brett Justice's opposite field grand slam in the top of the seventh inning to break open the scoring in the contest. Aiden McGinnis was the only other Buck to drive in multiple runs in the game.
In the 3-game series, the Bucks walked 25 times and were hit by 12 pitches. The men had 13 extra base hits in the three games (8 doubles, 2 triples, & 3 home runs). The Bucks also stole 14 bases in the series sweep. On the mound, the pitching staff struck out 26 hitters and stranded 28 runners.
The Bucks have a busy week with a pair of road developmental games on Monday and Wednesday. The varsity squads returns to action on Tuesday, March 12th, against Seminole State, and then will begin a 3-game series with South Arkansas on Thursday at Union Bank Field.
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