(March 16, 2022) Midwest City, OK – The Bucks took two games at South Arkansas on Monday and were looking to pick up their first win in Region 2 play Wednesday afternoon against the Raiders of Rose State College. This was the Bucks third region date of the still very young season. The Raiders were ranked #19 in last week's NJCAA DI Softball Poll.
GAME ONE
The Bucks wanted to start fast offensively and did against the Raiders with one swing of the bat by Chloe Ray (Fort Smith, AR) in the top of the first inning. After a 1 out walk, Ray homered on a line drive to center field to make it 2-0. Ashdown graduate Blaire Gentry (Lockesburg, AR) got the start in the circle and made quick work of the Raiders in the bottom half that allowed the Bucks to scratch across another run in the top of the second. Kayleigh Anderson (Forrest City, AR) hit a 2-out RBI single to make it 3-0.
Gentry would give up her only 2 runs of the contest in the bottom of the third inning that made it 3-2, but the freshmen was unphased and continued to hold the Raiders at bay. Both teams went scoreless until the Bucks changed that in the top of the seventh inning, adding 2 insurance runs. With 1 out and a runner on, Western Mussett (Garvin, OK) belted a 2-run shot over the left field fence that extend the Bucks lead to 5-2.
Blaire Gentry (6-3) gave up a pair of singles in the bottom half, but she closed out to win her sixth game of the season. She pitched a complete game, giving up 2 runs (1 earned) on 5 hits. She would only strike out one hitter in the outing.
This was the Bucks first region win of the season.
GAME TWO
Game Two was not the same kind of game as the previous. Rose State would explode and score 17 runs in the first four innings, including hitting 7 home runs. The Bucks only offensive production came in the top of the third inning. An Avery Cotten (Longview, TX) single led to a 1-out RBI single by Western Mussett. Two hitters later, Madelynn Lacaze (Gladewater, TX) grounded out to push another run across, but that's all the Bucks could produce in the 17-2 loss in five innings.
The Bucks used three pitchers in the contest. Presleigh Payne (2-3) took the loss in the start.
The Bucks get five days off before returning to the diamond during Spring Break against National Park on Tuesday, March 22nd. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm at Cummings-Cecil Field.
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