(Chandler, AZ) The Park University Gilbert softball team had a record breaking day at Seton Catholic High School, as they swept a double header from Benedictine Mesa, winning the first game 20-1 before coming from behind to win game two 7-5.
The Buccaneers are 32-12 overall, 20-6 in the California Pacific Conference. Benedictine Mesa is 9-25, 7-15 in conference.
The Buccaneers set numerous records in the game one win over the Redhawks. The Bucs set team records for the most runs scored (20), largest winning margin (19), most runs in an inning (13), most hits, and most RBI (19).
The game started innocuously as both teams scored solo runs in the first. Then Park Gilbert opened the flood gates with a 13-run second inning. The inning featured 13 hits, three of which were extra base knocks and two BENU errors. The Buccos sent 17 batters to the plate in the inning. The 13 runs scored bested the previous record of 10 against Park (Mo.) back in March of 2020 right before the season was cancelled due to the Pandemic.
The Bucs sent nine more hitters to the plate in the third as they tacked on five more runs. They finished the scoring with a solo run in the fifth as the game ended by run rule after five innings.
Mariah Martinez picked up her 14th win of the season allowing only two hits and striking out two.
At the plate Ledezma Romero tied the school record for runs in a game with four as well as RBI with four. Danielle Farinas also tied the RBI record as she also drove in four runs. Seven Bucs had multi-hit games with four Bucs posting three hits each.
Park Gilbert had to come from behind to win the second half of the double header, scoring six runs in the last two innings to take a 7-5 win.
Christian Smith got the start for an injured Abril Nerey and she gave up five runs on seven hits in five innings as Park Gilbert found itself down 5-1 heading into the sixth inning. After an error started things in the inning, BENU got two outs and looked as though they may escape trouble. But three consecutive hits including two doubles from Gabby Romero and Carolina Olivas brought home four runs to tie the game.
Martinez came on in the bottom of the sixth and held the Redhawk bats in check setting the table for the seventh. After an Anissa Corrales leadoff single, Taylor Mount reached on an error which allowed Corrales to come all the way around to score and Mount to get to third. Then a suicide squeeze bunt brought home Mount as an insurance run which Martinez would not need in the bottom of the seventh.
BENU was able to get a runner on in the seventh but could not muster anything else as the Bucs closed things out and Martinez picked up her 15th win of the season to tie Nerey for the team lead.
Olivas led the hit parade for Park, going 3-3 with 3 RBI. Natalie Castro added two hits and an RBI as the Olivas and Castro had five of the Bucs seven hits.
These two team will lock horns against tomorrow morning for another double header starting a t 10 a.m. at Seton Catholic High School to end the regular season. Park Gilbert has locked up the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament, while BENU is still fighting for a playoff berth.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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