(February 15, 2022) Hot Springs, Arkansas – Coming off a 5-1 start to the season last week, the Bucks kicked off week two of their 2022 season at Hot Springs High School this afternoon against National Park College.

GAME ONE

Blaire Gentry (Lockesburg, AR) got the start in the circle for the Bucks. In the contest, she would give up 3 runs on 5 hits during 6 innings of work. Gentry (1-1) gave up one run in the top of the first, third, and fourth innings, while striking out 3 and walking 4 in the loss.  

Offensively, the baserunners for the Bucks were at a premium. Through three innings, the Bucks only produced one baserunner through 10 hitters. The top of the fourth inning had a promising start after back-to-back singles by this week's NJCAA Region 2 DI Softball Player of the Week Abi West (Ida, AR) and Madelynn Lacaze (Gladewater, TX), but a double play and strikeout ended the Bucks threat. Two innings later, West got aboard again in the top of the sixth, but she was once again stranded on the base paths. The Bucks then went in order to end the game in the seventh, a 3-0 loss to National Park.  

GAME TWO

Looking to rebound and find some run production, the Bucks went scoreless in the first inning. In the top of the second inning, the Bucks loaded the bases after a single, double, and hit-by-pitch with no outs. Presleigh Payne would then pick up the sacrifice fly to plate Shiley Cartinez (Many, LA). Next at-bat, Kayleigh Anderson (Forrest City, AR) would groundout but picked up a RBI on the play. The Bucks weren't done with 2 outs and a runner on second. Kaylin McKee (Wickes, AR) then doubled to left field to score another Bucks run. Jah'Kaiya Woods (Little Rock, AR) would trade places with a McKee on a line drive double to left field that made it 4-0 Bucks midway through the second inning.

The Bucks added a run in the top of the third. After reaching on a walk and error, Western Mussett (Garvin, OK) came to the plate with 1 out and reached on an error that allowed Abi West to score to give the Bucks a 5-0 lead.

National Park would not go away and chipped away at the Bucks lead in the bottom of the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings against starting pitcher Caitlyn Mayo (Bigelow, AR). Heading into the seventh inning, the Bucks held to a 5-4 lead. In the last inning, Mayo gave up a 1-out single, but she would get a strikeout and fly ball out in foul territory to close out the game for the Bucks win.

Caitlyn Mayo (3-1) picked up her third win of the season, throwing a complete game. She gave up 4 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits, while striking out 4 and walking 1 lone hitter.

The Bucks are back in action this weekend at Cummings-Cecil Field against Paris Junior College on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm.

#GOBUCKS