(Lancaster, CA) Today’s game between the Park University Gilbert baseball team and the University of Antelope Valley proved the old Yogi Berra adage, it ain’t over til its over. The Buccaneers lost a heartbreaking 13-12 decision to the Pioneers this afternoon.
The Buccaneers led for most of the game but did not hold the lead at the end as it was not able to maintain a three-run lead in the eighth,.
The Bucs jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first behind a Connor Hommes RBI double and a Jason Newton two-run single.
Antelope Valley answered right back with a two-run double of its own in the bottom half of the first off Bucs starter Joseph Chavira who threw 5.1 innings in his eighth start of the season.
After both teams tacked on solo runs in the second, both teams went scoreless until the sixth, when the Bucs added two runs on a Logan Livingston double. The Pioneers got both of those runs right back with a homer in the bottom half of the inning.
After six, the Bucs had the lead and Chavira was in line for the win. But UAV had other plans. Coming into the contest Park Gilbert was 8-2 in games it led after six innings, but it would not be able to hold on to its advantage today.
In the Bottom of the seventh, UAV put a four-spot on the board to take the lead for the first time 9-6. Undaunted, the Buc came alive in the top half of the eighth,
A steal of third and an errant throw allowed the first run to score. Then a sacrifice fly by Livingston brought home the second run. Diego Bejarano gave the Bucs the lead again as he drove in a pair with a single and Hommes brough home the last two with a majestic two-run home run. The Bucs now led by three 12-9.
They say walks will doom an inning. This was certainly the case for the Buccaneers in the bottom of the eighth. Reliever Matthew Medina, having to face the heart of the Pioneer order walked the first two batters he faced before hitting the third batter to load the bases. After getting the first out in the inning on a shallow fly ball. UAV took the lead for good with a grand slam home run off the bat of senior center fielder Raul Sandoval.
The Bucs were unable to respond in the top of the ninth and the Buccaneers fall to 6-4 in the California Pacific Conference, now in a tie with the Pioneers who are also 6-4. Overall, the Bucs are now 9-16.
The Bucs outhit the Pioneers 12-11 as all but one starter had a hit. Chris Amador extended his hitting streak to nine games with a single in the second inning. Hommes went 3-4 on the day with three RBI. Both Bejarano and Newton also had two hits.
Medina (1-2) takes the loss in the relief for the Bucs.
These two teams will meet tomorrow for a double header to complete the three-game set. Former UAV pitchers Shaun Atamanchuk and Kyle Poapst are slated to take the mound for the Bucs against their old teammates. The first game is slated to start at 11 a.m.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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