(Mesa, AZ) The Park University Gilbert baseball team split a double header with La Sierra this afternoon losing the first game 7-6 and winning the second contest 6-3. The Bucs move to 16-15 on the season 7-6 in conference play.
Game 1 – La Sierra 7, Park Gilbert 6
The Buccaneers had the game exactly were they wanted it, a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the ninth with one of its two closers on the mound. But the Eagles put a damper on the day as they hit back-to-back home runs to secure a walk off victory in game one of the series.
The Bucs jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings as Diego Bejarano, Gino Caperon and Andrew Allanson had RBI singles to drive home the first three runs.
LSU answered with a homer by Anthony Thomas in the bottom of the second and a RBI ground out in the fourth.
After this, both teams would be silent until the seventh. Caperon would extend the lead with a sacrifice fly in the top half of the seventh, but LSU would score two in the bottom of the inning off of reliever Angel Heredia to tie the game.
Cole Gillespie would give the Bucs the lead right back in the eight with an RBI single and the Bucs responded with bringing in closer Adrian Gamez. Who until his last outing against Benedictine Mesa had only allowed one run all season.
The next four runs of the game all came via the long ball. LSU tied the game in the bottom of the eight with a solo shot. Then Allanson responded in the Bucs ninth with his own jack, his seventh of the season to give Park the lead back.
But in the ninth with one our Thomas and Nate Martinez ended the game with homers of their own to put the loss and first blown save of the season on Gamez (1-1).
Allanson 3-3 with three RBI, while Caperon had two hits and two RBI to lead the Bucs offense.
Starter Junior Flores had another quality start going 6.0 innings allowing five hits and two runs while striking out seven.
Game 2 – Park Gilbert 6, La Sierra 3
After the way the previous game ended, the Buccaneers responded with offense again to start game two putting two runs on the board in the first and two more in the third to take a 4-1 lead and they would utilize strong pitching to keep the Eagles at bay.
Freshman righthander Trey Langan (2-2) had his best outing of the season, throwing 6.0 innings, allowing only four hits and one run as he struck out six as he picked up his second win of the season.
Freshman lefty Ivri Margolin would come in and allow two runs in 2.1 innings, but Park had increased its lead to 6-1 before the two runs were scored in the eighth.
The Bucs all-time saves leader, Diego Bustillos came on in the ninth to shut things down and did so to pick up his fourth save of the season.
Caperon and Caleb Rozier would provide the offensive punch for the Bucs in the night cap, as Caperon had two hits and two more RBI, while Rozier had three hits and two RBI.
These two teams will meet to conclude the series on Sunday, March 24 as they will play another double header, the first game will start at 11 a.m. and will count towards conference standings, the second game will be played as a non-conference game and will only be a seven-inning contest.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
Click on Logo
