(Mesa, AZ) The Park University Gilbert baseball team split a double header with Embry Riddle Aeronautical University at Arizona Athletic Grounds, losing game one 3-0, but coming back in game two to win going away 9-3. The Buccaneers are now 18-18 on the season and 8-8 in conference play.
Game 1 – Embry Riddle 3, Park Gilbert 0
The Buccaneers could not solve the mystery of ERAU starter Cole Altherr who threw a complete game four-hit shutout.
The performance by Altherr (4-2) overshadowed another solid start from Park Gilber starter Junior Flores (4-2) who went 7.1 innings allowing three runs and striking out three but ended as the hard luck loser.
The game was scoreless through four innings before ERAU broke through in the fifth. Travis Strickler fisted a ball over the head of third baseman Nick Miller and turned it into a double. Strickler advanced to third on a ground out and then scored on a double from Drew Barragan.
Flores continued to keep the Eagles at bay until eighth where he started the innings at 93 pitches. He managed to get the first out in the inning but then surrendered four consecutive hits which resulted in the final two runs scoring. The Bucs bullpen was called upon and they held the Eagles to three in the eighth and ninth innings.
The Bucs were only able to manage four hits, but all of them were singles but were not able to stack anything on top of the hits in the same inning. Altherr would strike out 12 Bucs.
Game 2- Park Gilbert 9, Embry Riddle 3
The Bucs would get the bats going in game two, pounding out 11 hits and nine runs to build an early lead and cruise home for a win and a split of the double header.
Embry Riddle got on the board first with an unearned run off of Bucs freshman starter Trey Langan. Shortstop Brendan Blakeman misplayed a popup for an error which allowed Strickler to get to second. Strickler proceeded to steal third and then scored on a ground out.
The Bucs responded with two of its own in the bottom half of the inning. With two outs, Gino Caperon and Jesh Leckey had back-to-back singles which led to a Matthew Seibold triple as he hit a rising line drive which Strickler misplayed in left and it got over his head.
The Bucs added three in the third as Caleb Rozier led off with a single which was followed by infield single by Andrew Allanson. Rozier moved to third after stealing second during the Allanson at-bat.
Caperon then doubled to left to drive in Rozier. Leckey would single to score Will Fleece who was courtesy running for Allanson. The third run scored when Seibold grounded into a double play.
Park blew the game open in the fourth, batting around and putting up four more runs to knock ERAU starter Michell Mussler from the game.
With one out, a single and consecutive walks loaded the bases and then Allanson was hit by a pitch to bring home the first run of the inning. This spelled the end for Mussler, who was pulled in favor of reliever Spencer Lanz. Lanz was greeted by Caperon with a double to right center to plate two more runs. The final run scored on a Leckey ground out.
This would end the scoring for the Bucs for the game, but they would not need any more as Langan (3-2) went 5.0 innings allowing three runs and striking out two. ERAU would score two runs in the fifth off Langan with two solo home runs.
The Bucs then called on one of their other freshman pitchers, left hander Ivri Margolin. Margolin would have his best outing of the season, throwing the final four innings, not allowing a hit and striking out two to pick up his first career save. Margolin retired the first nine batters in a row. The only runner to reach base was via a throwing error in the ninth.
Four Buccaneers had multi-hit games led by Caperon who went 3-4. Leckey, Seibold and Rozier each had two knocks. The Bucs also showed patience at the plate working eight walks.
The rubber game of this three-game set is set for tomorrow, March 30 starting at 11 a.m. at Arizona Athletic Grounds.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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