(April 5, 2022) Camden, Arkansas – Coming of a region split at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M that broke up a 6-game skid, the Bucks traveled to South Arkansas for a non-region doubleheader against SAU Tech. Earlier this season, the Bucks swept the Lady Rockets at Cummings-Cecil Field.
GAME ONE
In her last start in the circle, Blaire Gentry (Lockesburg, AR) threw a complete game 8-inning win at NEO and looked to repeat her recent success. The freshmen would do so with a complete game shutout over the Lady Rockets, 3-0. Gentry (8-5) would strike out 9 hitters, walk only 1, and only gave up 2 hits in her eighth win of the season.
Through five innings, the game was knotted at zero until the top of the sixth inning. Back-to-back single led off the inning. After an out, Blaire Gentry hit a RBI double. Next at-bat, Madelynn Lacaze (Gladewater, TX) hit a sac fly to right field to make it 2-0. Next inning, a 2-out walk and steal led to an Abi West (Ida, AR) RBI double that made it 3-0, which would be the final score.
GAME TWO
The Bucks wanted to continue momentum after picking up the series win and were going for the series sweep over SAU Tech. The Bucks would score in every inning of the game except the top of the seventh inning. Caitlyn Mayo (Bigelow, AR) got the start and lasted 6.0 innings, giving up 10 runs (4 earned) on 16 hits. She would strike out and walk a one apiece.
With the bases loaded with 2 outs in the top of the first, Kristen McMillan (Winnsboro, TX) reached on an error that plated a couple runs. Next at-bat, Presleigh Payne (Grapevine, TX) hit 2-RBI single to make it 4-0 after 1 inning. The Bucks would score 2 runs apiece in the next three innings to make it 10-4. The Bucks 6 runs came off two 2-run home runs by Blaire Gentry and a 2-run blast by Presleigh Payne. SAU Tech plated 4 runs in the bottom of the second inning.
Presleigh Payne hit a solo shot in the top of the fifth inning before SAU Tech plated 4 runs in the bottom half. In the top of the sixth, the Bucks would plate 3 runs on a 2-RBI double by Kristen McMillan and a RBI double by Chloe Ray (Fort Smith, AR). SAU Tech chipped away with 2 runs in the bottom half to make it 14-10 after six innings.
Mayo's day was done in the circle. Brookelyn Coffey (Sims, AR) came on to pitch the last inning and gave up a run, but closed out the win, 14-11.
Caitlyn Mayo (6-6) picked up her sixth win of the season.
The Bucks return to action on Thursday at home against #4 Seminole State. First pitch is scheduled for 2 pm at Cummings-Cecil Field.
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