Glendale, AZ) The Park University Gilbert baseball team began the last week of the regular season with a 9-8 non-conference loss against Arizona Christian who are receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top-25 poll. The game, played at Glendale High School and saw the Firestorm walk the game off in the bottom of the ninth inning.
The Bucs jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the second on a bases clearing double by Trent Williams driving in Travis Moore, Connor Hommes and Brendan Blakeman.
ACU scored its first run in the bottom of the second on a homer, before Park came right back in the top half of the third with a home run of its own, a two-run blast by Joaquin Martinez.
The Firestorm cut the lead to two with two runs of their own in the fourth on two bases loaded walks. The Buccos extended its lead to five in the top of the fifth with three runs after loading the bases for the second time. A ground out, a passes ball and an Anthony Marconsingle brought home the runs.
That would end the scoring for Park as they would be held scoreless over the final four innings. ACU on the other hand had more to say. They scored two in the sixth and three in the seventh to tie the game at eight.
After a scoreless eighth, ACU came to bat in the bottom of the ninth against Bucs reliver Atley Jacome. ACU cleanup hitter Marques Titalii greeted Jacome with his second home run to end the game.
At the plate, Chris Amador continued his outstanding season with three hits and two runs scored. Nine players had hits for Park in the game, Williams (3) and Martinez (2) led in RBI.
Five pitchers took the mound for the Bucs with DJ Martin making his first collegiate start. Zachary Fogle (2 2/3 IP) and Zachary Swanson (1 IP) both had scoreless outings. Jacome (0-1) take the loss, his first of the season.
The Buccaneers now finish the season at Saint Katherine with their postseason hopes on the line. Due to all of the rainouts in California this season, some teams will not be able to complete a full conference schedule. Due to this, the five teams for the postseason will be decided by a panel of conference athletic directors, administrators and coaches who’s teams are not in consideration for the postseason. This system was implemented during the pandemic for the same reason when teams did not play the same number of games due to cancellations.
Benedictine Mesa and Westcliff have qualified for the postseason based on its record. The final three teams will be decided from five teams. Antelope Valley, Embry Riddle, Simpson, Park Gilbert and Saint Katherine. This panel will also determine seeding for the tournament.
Currently Antelope Valley (12-9) and Embry Riddle (11-9) look to have a lock on two of the spots, with the final spot coming down to Simpson (11-10), Park Gilbert (9-12) and Saint Katherine (8-11).
Park Gilbert owns the season series with Simpson (2-1) while Simpson swept USK two weeks ago and now this week the Bucs and Firebirds meet. If Park can win two games to win the series with USK it would put the Bucs in a good position to own the season series against the other two teams they are battling with for the final play off spot. If they can sweep USK they would have more wins than Simpson as well as owning the season series.
The Bucs and Firebirds will play a double header this Saturday with the first game starting a 4:30 p.m. at Escondido High School, in Escondido, Calif. The final game of the series is Sunday, starting at 4:30 p.m. at Escondido High School. The panel will convene after the conclusion of the series Sunday night to deliberate and make the final decision on the five teams and seeding for the Cal Pac Baseball Tournament to be held at Hohokam Park in Mesa, Ariz., May 3-5.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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