(Tempe, AZ) The Park University Gilbert baseball team dropped both ends of a double header to Westcliff University this afternoon at Tempe Diablo Field 6 by scores of 10-6 and 8-1.
Game one – Westcliff 10 Park Gilbert 6
The Buccaneers jumped out to a 4-1 lead before a six-run sixth inning flipped the script and led the Warriors to a 10-6 win in game one of a Friday double header.
In the first, Park Gilbert got its first three hitters on loading the bases before and RBI fielder’s choice and an RBI single by Jason Newtondrove home the first two runs of the game.
Westcliff tacked on a run in the fourth, but the Bucs responded in the fifth with two more runs with two outs. A Chris Amador triple was followed by an Austin Chouinard double and a Joaquin Martinez triple to plate two more runs.
Buccaneer starter Joseph Chavira was strong through five innings but ran into trouble in the sixth. With one out and two runners on, Chavira relinquished a three-run home run which tied the game and forced Park Gilbert skipper Kelly Stinnett to pull him from the game. Things did not go well for his replacement in Connor Barton who surrendered three more runs as he took the loss.
Westcliff would add a solo run in the seventh and two more in the eighth to get to 10 runs while the Bucs attempted to make a comeback with two runs in the seventh. Colby Weyant came on in the eighth for Westcliff and silenced the Bucs bats over the final two innings not allowing a hit and only one baserunner as he picked up the save for starter Eddie Vokes (1-0).
Austin Chouinard led the way at the plate going 3-4 with two RBI. Jason Newton added two hits and an RBI making his first start.
Game two – Westcliff 8 Park Gilbert 1
The Bucs and Warriors both had seven hits in the game, but unfortunately for fans of Park Gilbert every ball hit right on the screws seemed to find the glove of a Westcliff player. The Warriors on the other hand found holes with their hits with runners in scoring position en route to an 8-1 win.
Westcliff started with three runs in the top of the first off of Park Gilbert opener Kyle Poapst. Poapst settled down over the next two innings before giving way to Zachary Swanson who kept Westcliff at bay through the six. But other than an Amador single in the second, the Bucs could not find the hits they needed to get themselves back in the game. The Bucs left nine men on base for the game.
Westcliff finally got two runs (one earned) on Swanson in the seventh and then added three more in the ninth off of DJ Martin to complete the scoring.
Amador and Michael Rodriguez each had two of the Buccaneers seven hits.
The Buccaneers and Warriors will conclude this three game series tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. at Skyline High School in Mesa, Ariz. Shaun Atamanchuk is expected to get the start on the mound for the Bucs.
