(Mesa, AZ) The softball team at Park University Gilbert went head to head against Embry-Riddle University (AZ) in day one of their two day series, in which the Buccaneers dropped both games 7-0 and 6-2.
Embry-Riddle was on fire from the jump, putting five runs on the board during the first frame, with help from a grand slam at the bat of junior Sam Holbert.
Mariah Martinez struggled in the circle, throwing eight hits and six runs during the first two innings. The Buccaneers two hits during game one was the product of stellar pitching from Embry-Riddle’s Vanessa Brink. She threw a full seven frames and struck out eight.
Christian Smith was sent into the game in an effort to stop the bleeding. She allowed one run off of five hits in her first game back since March 13.
With two more runs allowed in the second and fourth innings, it seemed like a run rule ending was on the Buccaneers horizon. Fortunately, Natalie Castro caught a right field flyout to end the top of the seventh.
Game two presented an equal matchup, with the Buccaneers and Eagles maintaining two runs for the majority of the afternoon. Danielle Farinas hit a two run homer to send herself and Christina Robles through home plate.
A second Embry-Riddle run tied up the score and sent both teams into extra innings. Park battled in the eighth, allowing one hit and leaving one on base. The Eagles unleashed on their opponents in the ninth, slamming four runs on five hits to put the game away.
With two losses to Embry-Riddle, the Buccaneers move to the No. 2 spot in the California Pacific Conference standings.
Park returns to play with a doubleheader against Embry-Riddle (AZ) on April 15 at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. The games will be played at Legacy Sports Complex.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Lainie Hallows
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