(Encinitas, CA) The Park University Gilbert softball team took the first two games of its four game series with the University of Saint Katherine this afternoon at the Cardiff Sports Complex in Encinitas, Calif. The Bucs won game one 7-1 and took the night cap 4-2 in eight innings. The Bucs up their record to 13-21 overall and 8-6 in conference play.
Game 1 – Park Gilbert 7, Saint Katherine 1
Behind a seven strike out complete game from Abril Nerey, the Buccaneers took game one of the double header from the Firebirds.
After a scoreless first two innings, Park broke through first with a three-run third all with two outs. Sorcha Walker got things started lacing a single to left. Noelle Gumm followed with a walk and Nerey helped herself with a two-run double to left center and then moved to third on the throw to the plate. Alejandra Castro capped the inning with a single to score Nerey.
Saint Katherine would score their only run in the bottom of the third as they had three consecutive batter reach base with one out. Then the Bucs turned an unusual double play as a ball was laced at Gumm playing first base the was hit so hard it ricocheted to Taylor mount at second who threw the runner out at first and then USK attempted to score the runner from second on the play, but Gumm’s throw home was there in plenty of time to score the runner and end the inning.
Nerey would settle in after this and the Firebirds would only get two more hits the rest of the game.
Park would add on three more runs in the fifth a Gumm would walk and Nerey would single to get things started. Castro would be hit by a pitch which would bring a pitching change for USK. The first pitch would get by the Firebird catcher and Gumm would score on a wild pitch. Ledezma Romero would walk to reload the bases and then the next run came home via another walk to Danielle Farinas. The final run came home on a Carolina Olivas fielders choice ground out.
The final run would be scored as Gumm singled, advanced on a passed ball, moved to third on ground out by Nerey and then scored on a single by Castro.
Nerey (8-9) picked up the complete game win, scattering six hits and only walking one. At the plate, Nerey and Castro each had two hits, Gumm scored three times while going 1-2 with two walks.
Game 2 – Park Gilbert 4, Saint Katherine 2
Game two was a pitchers duel between Park’s Christian Smith and USK’s Caitlyn Potts. USK got on the board first as the Bucs made two errors which allowed the Firebirds to score their first run, but Smith worked her way out of the jam with a strike out and a lineout to Romero in center.
Potts was equally as impressive for the Firebirds, overcoming a couple of hard hit balls from Elisa Cueva and Farinas to hold the Bucs scoreless until the fourth when Gumm greeted Potts with a home run to center field to tie the game at 1-1.
The game would remained tied through regulation as both pitchers continued to befuddle the other teams hitters.
In the eighth, the bottom of the Bucs lineup got things started. Carolina Olivas would lead of the inning with a line drive hustle double to right center. Farinas followed with a walk. Monica Chon would pinch hit for Smith and lay down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners and would reach base herself as the throw was dropped at first. Taylor Mount would then single over the drawn in infield to score the first run. Gumm would get the second run home with a sacrifice fly to left and all three runners tagged and advanced. After Farinas scored, Smith who reentered to run for Chon scored when the throw to third got away .
With a three run lead heading into the bottom of the eighth, Nerey was called on to close the door on game two. The Firebirds started the inning with a double, then with one out got a single to score their second run. Nerey then got her footing to get a ground out and strike out to end the game.
Smith (3-5) picked up her third win of the season.
These same two teams will conclude the series with another double header tomorrow with games at 1 and 3 p.m.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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