(March 21, 2024) Mena, Arkansas - Winners of their last 8 games in a row and 9 of their last 10, the Bucks began an important 3-game series this afternoon at Union Bank Field against ASU Mountain Home. The Bucks entered the first game at 7-1 in region play, while the Trailblazers were 7-2. In last week's NJCAA DII Baseball Poll, ASU Mountain Home was ranked #20.

Ethan Diaz (Minneola, FL) got his normal Thursday start and went to work on the mound, holding the Trailblazers scoreless threw the first 4 innings. The Bucks gave him some run support in the bottom half of the fourth inning on a solo blast by Ian Smith (Bismarck, AR) to make it 1-0 through four.

Diaz continued to work himselfs out of jams, and the Bucks offense got him another run in the sixth and 3 runs in the seventh. In the sixth, the Bucks had a runner on first that advanced on an error on a bunt by Caleb Bryant (North Little Rock, AR). During the next at-bat, the Bucks scored on a throwing error to extend the lead. In the seventh, the men loaded the bases, and Aiden McGinnis (Jasper, AL) hit a sac fly to centerfield to open the scoring in the inning. After an out and a hit-by-pitch, Caleb Bryant hit a 2-RBI single to centerfield to make it 5-0 in favor of the Bucks.

Diaz continued in the eighth and gave up his only run of the game. Then, the Trailblazers loaded the bases in the nineth, but Shuto Okumura (Takatsuki, Japan) threw a double play ball to end the game. Bucks win 5-2. 

Ethan Diaz (3-2) picked up the win in 8.0 innings of work. He would give up a run on 4 hits and struck out 6 and walked a pair in the outing. Okumura picked up his first save of the season.

The Bucks and Trailblazers will conclude the 3-game series on Saturday in Mountain Home. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm. 

#DefendTheMountain