(Mesa, AZ) The Park University Gilbert softball team entered uncharted territory today after a long and tumultuous week reaching 20 wins for the first time in program history with 5-1 and 3-2 victories over the University of Saint Katherine at Bell Bank Park.
The past week was a long one for the Buccaneers as they sat around last weekend waiting out rain showers in Southern California only to play three of games when the team was scheduled to play eight over five days. Five of them were cancelled due to the inclement weather and the Bucs returned home to play a tough and game Saint Katherine team.
Park Gilbert is now 20-6 overall and 10-1 in the Cal Pac Conference. USK drops to 4-15 overall and 3-5 in conference play.
Game 1 – Park Gilbert 5, Saint Katherine 1
Saint Katherine jumped on top 1-0 with a run in the third as they executed a double steal to get its first run in the series home.
Park Gilbert answered in the bottom half of the fourth as the Bucs loaded the bases and then received an RBI single from Natalie Castro and a 2-RBI knock from Anissa Corrales to give the Bucs the lead 3-1. Castro would score on a wild pitch and Corrales would score on the Bucs own double steal to score the fifth run in the inning.
Mariah Martinez (7-4) took care of the rest with a dominating performance in the circle allowing only six hits and striking out four in her second complete game of the season. She threw 74 percent of her 98 pitches for strikes on the afternoon.
Offensively, the Bucs were efficient scoring five runs on five hits but two of those hits came with the bases loaded which ultimately helped determine the final outcome.
Game 2 – Park Gilbert 3, Saint Katherine 2 (9 innings)
It is hard to sweep any team in a four-game series and the Buccaneers had to work to get for it in the final game of the series.
In yesterday’s contest Bucs hurler Abril Nerey was dominant, allowing only two hits and no runs in a complete game win. Today she was tested right off the bat in the first as USK three-hole hitter Alyssa Bolden greeted her with a solo home run in the top of the first.
The Bucs responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning as Danielle Farinas drove home Castro with a sacrifice fly.
USK would retake the lead in the fourth with an RBI single after a walk and a sacrifice bunt moved a runner into scoring position.
Again, Park Gilbert would tie the contest in the bottom of the fifth, this time with two outs. Catcher Raylissa Garcia would double and move to third on a wild pitch. Then Christina Roblescame off the bench in a pinch hitting role and proved the Bucs coaching staff prophetic by singling up the middle to get Garcia home.
Tied at 2-2 heading into the sixth, the Park Gilbert pitching and defense carried them the rest of the way. Over the last four innings, the Bucs only allowed one hit and one walk and the runners never reached scoring position.
The Bucs had a chance to win the game in the eight with the bases loaded and one out. But two fielders choices ended the threat and set up the heroics in the ninth.
Gabby Romero ended things quickly in the ninth with a walk-off home run, her second dinger of the season and an important one to keep the Bucs winning momentum going.
Martinez picks up the win in relief for her eighth win of the season.
Park Gilbert now has 20 wins with 23 games remaining in the season. The Bucs also have 10 wins in 11 conference games this season. The Bucs had 12 wins in 32 conference games last season.
The Buccaneers get to stay home for the week and welcome Antelope Valley next week for four games. The first two games will be played on Friday March 24 at Chandler-Gilbert Community College at 1 and 3 pm and the final two games will be played at Williams Field High School on Sunday March 26 at 11 and 1.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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