(May 1, 2022) Mena, Arkansas – Coming off winning both games of the doubleheader on Thursday against NOC-Enid, the Bucks solidified themselves a spot in the Region II Tournament on May 12th – 15th in Piedmont, Oklahoma. The Bucks still have some work to do to determine the tournament seeding with two more doubleheaders, including this afternoon with Eastern Oklahoma State College. Eight sophomores were to be honored between games this afternoon: Ashlee Gurley, Brooke Detommaso, Ashton Daniel, Kristen McMillan, Avery Cotten, Sydney Smith, Leah Wilkins, and Madelynn Lacaze.
GAME ONE
Blaire Gentry (Lockesburg, AR) got the start in the circle for the Bucks. After a scoreless top of the first, she would do the damage in the bottom half with her bat. With a runner on and 2 outs, Gentry hit a line drive over the left field fence to make it 2-0 after an inning.
After another scoreless top half of the inning, the Bucks had runners on second and third base for Jah'Kaiya Woods (Little Rock, AR). The freshmen hit a 2-RBI single to left field to make it 4-0 after two. After another zero in the top of the third, the Bucks had runners on the corners with an out. Kaylin McKee (Wickes, AR) hit a sac fly to right center to extend the lead to 5-0 after three innings.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Bucks extended their lead. A 2-out walk brough Abi West (Ida, AR) to the plate. She would hit a line drive triple to right center field that plated a run to make it 6-0 after four innings.
After a scoreless fifth inning, Gentry's no hitter was broken up in the top of the sixth inning, including a 3-run homer that made the score 6-3. In the bottom half with two runners on and 2 outs, Madelynn Lacaze (Union Grove, TX) hit a 2-RBI single. The next at-bat, Blaire Gentry helped her own cause with a RBI double. After a single, Kaylin McKee ended the game with a 3-run blast into the left field bullpen. Final score was 12-3 after 6 innings.
Blaire Gentry (13-8) gets the win in her 6.0 innings of work. She would give up 3 runs on 3 hits. She would also strike out 3 hitter and walked one on the day.
GAME TWO
Caitlyn Mayo (Bigelow, AR) got the start in the circle in game two. She would throw two scoreless innings to start the game. The Lady Mountaineers plated their first run of the game on an error in the top of the third to lead 1-0. The Bucks answered in the bottom half. With runners on first and second and 1 out, Leah Wilkins (Van Buren, AR) delivered a RBI single to tie the game. With runners advancing on a wild pitch, Caitlyn Mayo helped her own cause with a 2 RBI double to left field to take the lead, 3-1.
After a scoreless top of the fourth, Western Mussett (Garvin, OK) belted a 3-run bomb over the left center fence to extend the lead to 6-1, but the Lady Mountaineers came back with a 3-run inning of their own to cut the lead to 6-4. In the bottom of the fifth, the Bucks added a run on a squeeze bunt by Avery Cotten (Longview, TX) to make it 7-4 after five.
Brookelyn Coffey (Sims, AR) entered the game in the circle to start the sixth inning. The Lady Mountaineers produced 3 runs in the inning to tie the game at 7-7. In the bottom half, Madelynn Lacaze pinch hit with runners on the corners and delivered a RBI double to right field that gave the Bucks an 8-7 lead heading into the final inning.
After a hitter reached in the top of the seventh inning, Blaire Gentry entered the game in the circle. Eastern added 2 runs in the top half to make it 9-8, but that would be the final score.
Caitlyn Mayo pitched 5.0 innings, giving up 4 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits. She would strike out 5 and walk a pair in the outing. Brookelyn Coffey pitched 1.0 innings, giving up 4 runs (2 earned). Blaire Gentry (13-9) would get the loss in her 1.0 innings of work.
The Bucks are scheduled to play again tomorrow against Connors State College at 1 & 3 pm.
#GOBUCKS