(Tempe, AZ) The final game of a four game series can really extend a pitching staff and many times can lead to a high scoring contest. This was certainly the case today at Tempe Diablo Fields as the Park University Gilbert baseball team dropped the final contest in the four game series with Eastern Oregon 16-11.
This game only saw two innings where neither team scored a run. There were six half innings which saw multiple runs scored (three for each team).
After EOU scored one run in the first, the Bucs posted a four-run second inning with RBI knocks from Eric Baratta and Nick Miller. The last run was scored on an error by EOU.
The Mountaineers tied the game with two runs in the third and a solo run in the fourth. Then the bats for both teams were silent in the fifth and six innings.
In the seventh, EOU scored a run in the top half of the innings before the Bucs retook the lead in the bottom half of the frame on an 2-run RBI double from Andrew Allanson.
Eastern Oregon answered with a flurry of runs in the eighth inning off of Park relievers Spencer Jacobs and Adrian Gamez. Jacobs was making his first appearance and was only able to get one out while allowing three hits, a walk and four runs. Gamez, one of the Bucs closers was brought in to stem the tide but initially couldn’t overcome the Mountaineer momentum as he gave up two hits and two runs to give EOU a five run lead.
Park answered right back in the bottom of the eighth with four runs of its own as Jason Newton provided an RBI single and Caleb Rozier who hit the walk off home run yesterday, came through again, this time with an RBI triple to right to cut the lead to one.
Xavier Merrit threw a scoreless ninth to give the Bucs a chance and they took advantage. With one out Diego Bejarano and Gino Caperon singled back-to-back. Both hitters were run for to put more speed on the bases. Eric Rojo then singled to center field to bring home Will Fleece who was running for Bejarano to tie the game. But with the winning run at second, back-to-back strikeouts ended the inning.
The top of the 10th started with an error by shortstop Joel Holguin. Merrit then got a routine fly out to right. Then left handed pitcher PJ Martinez came in to face EOU left handed hitter Parker Cumberland who singled to right. On the play Bucs second baseman Eric Rojo suffered a leg injury and had to leave the game. Jimenez was replaced on the mound by Ethan Osness who gave up the go ahead single, charged as an unearned run to Merrit who took the loss despite not giving up a hit or walk and still has a 0.00 ERA on the season. Osness got one out but surrendered three more runs himself and one run was also charged to Jimenez. The Mountaineers scored five runs in the inning.
This time the Bucs did not have an answer as they did not score in the bottom half of the 10th and dropped an extra inning game for the second time in as many weekends.
The two teams combined for 27 runs and 30 hits on the day. Bejarano continues his hot start as another 3-5 day at the plate has his batting average now at .481 on the season. Caleb Rozier added two more hits and three RBI. Miller also had two hits and two RBI.
Ben Staiger had a solid start going five innings allowing only four hits and four runs (two earned) and struck out six in his best outing so far this season. Kindrick Tipping also had a solid outing allowing one run in two innings with a strikeout.
The Bucs are on the road for the next three and a half weeks starting on Tuesday, February 11 at Nelson, before traveling to Fort Worth, Texas to take on Texas Wesleyan for four games on February 14-15.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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