(Prescott, AZ) The Park University Gilbert softball team dropped its opening two games in Cal Pac play to Embry Riddle this afternoon losing game one 8-2 and falling in game two 13-5. The Buccaneers are now 2-10 on the season and 0-2 in conference play.
Game 1 – Embry Riddle 8, Park Gilbert 2
The Bucs got off to a tough start in game one with Eagles as they only managed five hits off of Eagles starter Vanessa Brink.
ERAU got on the board first with four runs in the bottom of the first against Bucs hurler Abril Nerey. A walk, two singles and two doubles did the damage in the inning and would score all the runs the Eagles would need in the game.
Nerey was pulled after two innings and 46 pitches. She allowed five runs (four earned) as she took the loss. Christian Smith threw the next three innings allowing three runs (two earned). Eliza Garcia pitched one inning allowing one hit.
At the plate, Ledezma Romero and Noelle Gumm each had two hits, accounting for four of the Bucs five hits for the game. Nerey had the other hit in her lone at-bat of the game.
Game 2 – Embry Riddle 13, Park Gilbert 5
The Bucs jumped on top first in this game with three runs in the top of the first. The law firm of Romero and Gumm would get things going again, as Romero reached via error and Gumm with a single to right. Alejandra Castro would then hit a three-run home run, her first of the season to put the Bucs on top.
The lead was short lived as ERAU answered right back with five runs in the bottom half of the frame off of starter Christian Smith who only went two-thirds of an inning. Nicole Darby came in to get the Bucs out of jam and held their bats in check in the second.
The Bucs would tie the score in the third as Castro hit her second home run of the game, this time a two-run blast after a Danielle Farinas double.
The Eagles would finally touch up Darby for four runs in the fourth and she would be relieved by Garcia.
The Buc bats would be held in check the rest of the way as ERAU pitcher Claire Streeter picked up the complete game win.
In the sixth, ERAU would get to Garcia for the final four runs of the game to end things as a run rule after six.
Offensively, Castro led the way at the plate, going 3-3 with the two homers a double and 5 RBI. Darby (0-1) takes the loss despite a strong performance in the circle.
The two teams will face off again tomorrow afternoon for another double headers starting at 12 p.m. in Prescott, Ariz.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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