(Mesa, AZ) The Park University Gilbert softball team split a double header with Carroll College (Mont.), losing the first game 5-0 and winning the second game 10-8 at Arizona Athletic Grounds. The Bucs are now 1-3 on the season.
Game 1 – Carroll 5, Park Gilbert 0
The Buc bats were silenced in the first game by Carroll starter Kennedy Verner who held the Bucs to three hits over seven innings.
The Verner outing overshadowed a solid pitching performance from Buc starter Christian Smith who threw five innings scattering six hits and allowing two runs.
The Bucs had an opportunity to jump out early as Noelle Gumm walked to lead off the inning. With two outs Danielle Farinas doubled to move Gumm to third, but both runners were left stranded.
Danielle Farinas/Photo – Park University Athletics
Park had its next best opportunity to get on the board in the fifth as doubled with one out and Ledezma Romero walked. With two outs, Farinas stepped to plate and with two hits on the day already, the Saints did not give her anything good to hit and walked the cleanup hitter to load the bases. Alejandra Castro just missed a fastball as she popped up to short to end the threat.
Elisa Garcia entered the game in relief of Smith in the circle and surrendered two home runs in the seventh inning to give the Saints some insurance as the Bucs would go 1-2-3 in the seventh to end the game.
Smith (0-2) was the hard luck loser despite the solid pitching performance. Farinas went 2-2 with a walk and Gumm had the other hit as she went 1-3.
Game 2 – Park Gilbert 10, Carroll 8
For as much as game one was a pitchers duel, game two was an offensive showcase. The Saints jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first off of Bucs hurler Nicole Darby who was making her first career start.
The Bucs responded in the bottom half of the first, batting around as the first eight batters all reached base safely and scored four runs. The only out in during this time was a caught stealing. After a strike out for out two, Gumm recorded her second hit of the inning driving home the fifth run.
In what would become a see-saw battle, the Saints answered back in the second, posting two more runs. In the bottom of the second, Farinas kept her hot bat going, driving a home run to center field to increase the lead to two.
But it was short lived as Carroll tied the game in the top of the sixth with a homer of its own and an RBI single. Then took the lead in the fourth with another homer.
The Bucs retook the lead for the second time in the bottom of the fourth on a Carolina Olivasdouble scoring Aubrey Chavez who doubled and Farinas who was walked again.
During this time, The Bucs had changed pitchers three times, bringing game one starter Smith back in before returning to Darby. Then in the sixth with the Bucs leading 8-7 and the Saints rallying, Bucs head coach Josh Musselman pulled out his ace in the hole.
Abril Nerey/Photo – Park University Athletics
Ace pitcher Abril Nerey has been limited due to lack of practice time while getting her eligibility straightened out. While she may not have had her normal velocity, Nerey had her location and curve ball working as she threw the final 1.2 innings allowing only one hit and no runs as she picked up the win, her first of the season and 20th of her career.
The Bucs tacked on two insurance runs in the sixth on a Olivas triple.
After only three hits in game one, the Bucs pounded out 15 knocks in game two with seven walks and only one strikeout.
Farinas went 2-2 again with three runs scored, two RBI and two walks. Gumm went 3-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Olivas finished 2-2 with a run scored and three RBI.
The Buccaneers now have a week off before returning to the field to play No. 19 Hope International next Thursday, February 8 at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. The Bucs had its game with HIU rained out last season.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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