(March 14, 2022) El Dorado, AR – Coming off a split yesterday at home, the ladies jumped in vans early this morning and headed to South Arkansas Community College for a non-region doubleheader with the Stars in preparation for a region doubleheader on Wednesday at Rose State College.
GAME ONE
Both teams went scoreless through the first two innings. The Bucks started Blaire Gentry (Lockesburg, AR) in the circle on a day that she didn't necessarily have her best stuff, but she battled through and gave the Bucks a chance.
The Bucks started the scoring in the top of the third inning with the bases loaded. Abi West (Ida, AR) came to the plate and hit a 2 RBI single to center field. Two hitters later and the bases loaded, Madelynn Lacaze (Gladewater, TX) hit a grand slam over the centerfield fence to give the Bucks a 6-0 lead, but South Arkansas answered with 3 runs of their own to make it 6-3 after three innings.
The Bucks scratched another run across in the next inning with 2 outs. Kristen McMillan (Winnsboro, TX) came to the plate with a runner on base and delivered a RBI single to extend the lead. The next inning would be scoreless before both teams produced a run in the sixth inning. The Bucks run came on a Presleigh Payne (Grapevine, TX) fly ball to right field that plated a run. With the score being 8-4 after six innings, the Bucks added 2 more insurance runs in the seventh inning on ground outs to make it 10-4.
Blaire Gentry (5-3) shutout the Stars in the bottom half of the seventh to preserve her fifth win of the season. She would throw 7.0 innings, giving up 4 earned runs on a 6 hits. The freshmen struck out a pair and walked 4 on the day.
GAME TWO
Looking to keep momentum going in the second game of the doubleheader, the Bucks went scoreless in the top of the first, but starting pitcher Presleigh Payne held the Stars scoreless as well. The Bucks got the offense going with an 8-run top of the second inning. With 2 runners on and 1 out, Payne helped her own cause with a 2 RBI single to right field to open the scoring. After a double, Avery Cotten (Longview, TX) hit a 2 RBI single in the nine hole to increase the lead. With 2 outs, Abi West hit a RBI single to score Cotten, before a walk and single setup Blaire Gentry. She would hit a 2 RBI double to centerfield to make it 8-0.
Both teams would go scoreless in the third inning before the Bucks plated 2 more runs in the top of the fourth. The Bucks made some lineup changes to start the inning. With the bases loaded, Presleigh Payne reached on an error to score Tabry Jordan (Little Rock, AR). With 2 outs, pinch hitter Shae Bassham (Salem, AR) picked up a RBI single to make it 10-0 in favor of the guest. The Stars lone run came on a home run in the bottom of the fourth inning.
The Bucks picked up 2 more runs in the top of the fifth inning off the bat of Blaire Gentry. She would hit a 2-out home run to make it 12-1. Payne came back out in the bottom half to close out the game and would on a double play with 2 runners on that ended the contest in five innings.
Presleigh Payne (2-2) evens her record on the young season in her 5.0 innings of work. She gave up 1 earned run on 4 hits, while striking out 2 and walking 1.
The Bucks return to action on Wednesday at Rose State College to continue Region II play. First pitch is scheduled for 2 & 4 pm.
#GOBUCKS