(March 12, 2024) Mena, Arkansas - After a 5-1 start in region play and winning 7 of their last 8 games, the Bucks had a tough mid-week contest this afternoon at Union Bank Field against Seminole State College. Earlier this season, the Bucks lost to Seminole 23-5. 

Seminole State struck first in the top of the first inning off of starting pitcher Ian Smith (Bismarck, AR). With the Bucks battling, the Bucks plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take the lead. After an out, the Bucks reached on an error and then a double to put runners in scoring position. Aiden McGinnis (Jasper, AL) grounded out to the right side to score the first run. Next at-bat, Trace Watkins (Sheridan, AR) reaches on an error that plated a run to make a 2-1 ball game after four innings.

Seminole regained their lead on a 2-run home run over the right field fence. The Bucks pitching and defense kept coming through for the Bucks with double play balls and pop ups. The Bucks regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. After a lead off single and sac bunt, Jack Bilski (La Porte, TX) hit a RBI single to centerfield and advanced on an error to second base. After a single and the second out of the inning, Brett Justice (Jacksonville, AR) delivered a RBI single to make the score 4-3 after six innings. 

Trapper Golden (Hughes Spring, TX) entered the game in the top of the seventh on the bump. He would give up an unearned run in the inning that tied the game, but he would strand the runner to end the inning. The Bucks struggled to get anything going offensively in the seventh and eighth innings, while Golden continued to deliver on ground balls and pop ups to get the game to the bottom of the nineth inning. 

In the bottom half, Caleb Bryant (North Little Rock, AR) hit a 1-out single and then stole second base before advancing to third on an error that put runners on the corners. After pinch runner Luke Crumpler (Bentonville, AR) stole second base to take the double play out of order, Cody Hayes (Corsicana, TX) came to the plate and squeezed to drive in Bryant from third base to walk it off for the Bucks, 5-4.

Golden (1-4) pitched the final 3.0 innings, giving up no hits and 1 unearned run. He would also strike out 4 hitters and only walked a pair in the win.

The Bucks now turn their attention to #16 South Arkansas for a 3-game region series. The series is scheduled to begin Thursday, pending the weather forecast. The series concludes on Saturday in El Dorado.

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