(Tempe, AZ) The Park University Gilbert baseball team split a conference double header with Simpson University this afternoon at Tempe Diablo, winning the opener 14-3 and dropping the night cap 7-6. The Bucs are now 13-11 overall and 5-2 in Cal Pac Play. Simpson is 10-13 overall and 6-1 in conference.
Game 1 – Park Gilbert 14, Simpson 3
The Bucs jumped out early and never let up as they cruised to a 14-3 run-rule victory in game one.
Park plated a single run in the first, but then exploded for six runs in the second and four more in the third. That would be more than enough for starting pitcher Junior Flores (3-1) who held the Red Hawks to two runs over six innings as he picked up his third win of the season. Flores scattered eight hits and struck out five.
At the plate designated hitter Connor Hommes had a day, going 4-4 with three runs scored. Cole Gillespie went 3-4 with two doubles, two RBI and three runs scored. Gino Caperon went 2-4 with two RBI and his first home run as Buc. Caleb Rozier went 2-4 with two RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases where his jump was so good he took the base standing up both times.
The Bucs tacked on three runs in the sixth inning to give themselves a 12-run margin. Josh Leckey threw the seventh allowing one run and pitched out of a bases loaded jam to finish the game in seven innings.
Game 2 – Simpson 7, Park Gilbert 6
The Bucs jumped out to a 4-1 lead in game two and things were looking good, but Simpson rallied with three runs in the fifth to tie and then added two in the sixth and one in the seventh to give them the enough to stave off the Buccaneers.
Park freshman starting pitcher Ivri Margolin was cruising through four innings before running into trouble in the fifth when Simpson touched him for the three runs to tie the game. Margolin pitched 4-plus innings allowing seven hits and four runs, striking out five.
Freshman reliever Trey Langan (1-2) came on in the fifth for Margolin to get out of the inning, then gave up two runs in the six and one in the seventh to take his second loss of the season. He allowed three hits and walked one.
The Bucs scored solo runs in the sixth and eighth innings to close the gap to one. But could not get the tying run across to tie the game and send it to extra innings.
Diego Bejarano went 3-4 in the game, while Cole Sneed went 2-3. Caperon added another two RBI as did Hommes.
Up Next
The Bucs and Red Hawks conclude the series tomorrow afternoon at Tempe Diablo starting at 1 p.m.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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