(Redding, CA) The Park University Gilbert softball team split its double header with Simpson University this afternoon dropping the first contest 6-2 before winning the night cap 3-0 in 10 innings. The Bucs move to 15-25 overall with a 10-8 record in conference play, a game ahead of Simpson who is now 14-25, 9-9.
Game 1 – Simpson 6, Park Gilbert 2
The Bucs got on the board first with a Danielle Farinas double to score Taylor Mount who led off the inning with a walk. The lead was short-lived however as the Red Hawks touched up Buccaneer starter Elisa Garcia for two runs in the bottom half of the inning.
Simpson would add two more in the second and fourth innings to chase Garcia. Christian Smithwould come in and close down the Simpson offense over the last three innings and would start a scoreless streak which would carry over into game two.
The Bucs second run would once again come after Mount reached base. This time she singled with one out and would be scored by a Noelle Gumm double.
Garcia took the loss allowing six runs (three earned) on six hits and she walked four. Smith came in and threw three shutout innings, not allowing a hit or a run and struck out four.
Game 2- Park Gilbert 3, Simpson 0 (10 innings)
Behind a brilliant complete game performance from ace Abril Nerey the Buccaneers got a 3-0 10 inning victory.
Park was fortunate to have Nerey on point in the circle as the Buccaneers struggled to produce any offense against Simpson starter Jacqulyn Lujan who befuddled the Buc batters over eight innings not allowing a hit until Farinas doubled in the ninth.
The tenth inning brought the international tie-break rule which places a runner on second to start the inning and the Bucs took advantage. Right fielder Sorcha Walker was placed at second to start the inning. Ledezma Romero blooped a ball over the shortstops head and utilized her speed to turn the play into a double. Walker moved to third.
Carolina Olivas was intentionally walked to load the bases. After a Kayla Seto strikeout, Bri Jackson hit a clutch single up the middle to score Walker to give the Bucs a 1-0 lead.
Mount got run number two home with a sacrifice fly to left to score Romero. A wild pitch then moved Olivas and Jackson to second and third for the Bucs best hitter all year in Gumm. With Farinas on deck, the Red Hawks chose to pitch to Gumm and paid the piper as a single scored Olivas to close out the scoring for the Bucs in the 10th.
The Bucs finished with four hits in the game and three of them came in the final inning.
Simpson received the same benefit of a runner at second to start the inning but were unable to muster any offense against Nerey as she struck out the first batter, induced a ground out and then struck out the last hitter to end the game.
This is the second week in a row the Bucs have won an extra inning contest in the second game of the day one double header. The Bucs won a 4-2 contest scoring three runs in the eighth inning against Saint Katherine last weekend.
Nerey (9-10) scattered five hits and stuck out six in the shutout victory.
These two teams will face off again tomorrow in another double header as these two teams battle for third place in the Cal Pac for the postseason tournament.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
Click on Logo
