(January 31, 2025) Youngsville, Louisiana - Coming off a 35 win season and finishing the regular season as the Region 2 Runner-Ups, the ladies began their 2025 season in Louisiana at the Mardi Gras Tournament held at the Youngsville Sport Complex. The Bucks began the morning against Southwest Tennesse and finished their day against Mississippi Gulf Coast. The tournament gives the Bucks the opportunity to play teams that they normally wouldn't play due to travel restrictions.
Game 1 - Southwest Mississippi
The ladies found themselves in whole early on. Southwest Mississippi capitalized on a walk and dropped third strikes to score 3 runs in the top of the second inning off of starting pitcher Addisyn Wright (Buffalo Valley, OK). The ladies got the offense rolling in the bottom of the third with crooked number of their own. A pair of walks and a single loaded the bases for sophomore Emma Reynolds (Cayuga, TX). The left handed hitter scored a pair of runs on a single to open the scoring. After a sac bunt moved the runners into scoring position, Kamryn Uher (Prairie Grove, AR) singled on a bunt and plated a pair of runs on a throwing error to give the ladies 4-3 lead.
Wright settled in and pitched a scoreless fourth inning to finish her day. The ladies added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth inning on a double steal by Emily Stout (Vilonia, AR) and Kamryn Uher to make it 5-3.
Hayden White (Red Oak, OK) entered the contest in the circle in the fifth inning and would go the rest of the way. In the save situation, she would give up 3 hits and 1 run to close out the game for the Bucks, winning 5-4.
Addisyn Wright (1-0) got her first college win, pitching 4.0 innings. The freshmen gave up 3 runs (1 earned) on 2 hits, while striking out 4 and walking a pair. White (1) got the 3.0 inning save.
Game 2 - Missisippi Gulf Coast
The Bucks fell behind 1-0 in the bottom of the first, and the game turned into a pitcher's dual. Sophomore Holly Raney (Mayflower, AR) got the start in the circle for the Bucks. She would settle in and work three straight scoreless innings before giving up another run in the bottom of the fifth.
Trailing 2-0, the ladies fought back in the top of the sixth inning with a run on a Emma Reynolds' ground out, but Mississippi Gulf Coast would get that run back in the bottom half to lead 3-1. The Bucks had a chance in the top of the seventh, but the ladies stranded a runner in scoring position to end the game. The Bucks fell 3-1.
The Bucks stranded 5 runners in the game, including grounding into a pair of double plays and couldn't capitalize on 3 errors by the Lady Bulldogs.
Raney (0-1) pitched 6.0 innings, giving up 3 runs on 6 hits. She would strike out a pair in the outing.
The ladies will now turn their attention to a doubleheader on Saturday against Bishop CC and Baton Rouge CC. First pitch is scheduled for 10 am and 3 pm at the Youngsville Sports Complex.
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