(Fort Worth, TX) The Park University Gilbert baseball team rebounded from a tough Friday against No. 12 Texas Wesleyan to score a double header sweep of Benedictine College (KS) 9-4 and 11-7 at Sycamore Park in Fort Worth, Texas. The Bucs move to 3-4 on the season with the two wins.
Game 1 – Park Gilbert 9, Benedictine College (KS) 4
The Buccaneers got off to a great start, posting eight runs in the bottom of the first inning after Benedictine plated a solo run in the top half of the first.
The first eight batters reached safely in the first for the Buccaneers with a walk an infield single, two stolen bases, and two more walks driving in the first run. With the bases loaded Caleb Rozier continued his solid weekend with a RBI knock to left to drive in two more. After another walk, Diego Bejarano singled home another run. With the bases loaded, third baseman Nick Miller doubled down the left field line to clear the bases. The final run came home when Enrique Figueroa, in his second at bat of the inning scored Miller with a fielder’s choice.
Both teams went cold for the next two innings before Park crossed another run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Miller to plate his fourth RBI of the afternoon.
Benedictine would get two more across in the fifth off of Bucs starter Junior Flores (1-0) who picked up his first win of the season. He went five innings, allowing six hits and three runs. He walked two and struck out six as he threw 87 pitches. Adrian Gamez pitched the last two innings, allowing one run and striking out four to pick up his first career save.
At the plate, Miller had the big day with four RBI. Rozier posted another two hit day with two RBI and Brendan Blakeman continued his solid weekend with a two hit, two RBII game.
Game 2 – Park Gilbert 11, Benedictine College (KS) 7
The Bucs jumped ahead with another big early inning; this time it was a five run second which got the ball rolling for the Bucs.
The Bucs batted around for the second time, as a Benedictine error got things started, followed by a two singles, the second by Blakeman who drive in courtesy runner Will Fleece. Connor Hommes then drove in two more with a single right center. Hommes would score later in the inning on a Rees Hall knock and the final run scored on another Benedictine error.
Park Gilbert starter Ivri Margolin, a freshman from Israel, had his second consecutive solid start going three innings, allowing only one hit and one run while striking out three on 47 pitches.
The Bucs tacked on three more in the third, as a Miller fielder’s choice and Tommy Pinnowtwo-RBI double plated the three runs.
Benedictine got two each in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings off freshman reliever Trey Langan to make it a one-run game.
The Bucs were able to give themselves some breathing room in the bottom of the sixth with some help from the Benedictine defense. Park added three runs with two outs in the inning thanks to an error by the Raven catcher which allowed two runs to score and then a single by Blakeman plated the third.
Bucs closer Diego Bustillos was called upon in the seventh to shut down the Ravens offense and after allowing a couple of base runners, Bustillos got a flyout and a strikeout to close things out for the win.
Margolin (1-0) was credited with his first collegiate win.
At the plate, Blakeman and Hommes each had two hits and two RBI. Pinnow also had two RBI. Rozier had two RBI and three runs scored.
The Buccaneers now return home for a three-game series with Midland next Friday and Saturday, February 9 and 10. The two teams will play a single game at Arizona Athletic Grounds starting at noon on the ninth and then a double header starting a 10 a.m. on the 10th.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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