(Gilbert, AZ) The Park University Gilbert softball team (10-10, 3-3) secured a pair of wins against the Benedictine University Mesa Redhawks (11-16, 2-8), Friday afternoon at McQueen Park in Gilbert, Ariz.
The Buccaneers returned to .500 both overall and in conference play, moving their all-time record against Benedictine Mesa to 16-8. Park-Gilbert, winners of three straight, jump to third place in the Great Southwest Athletic Conference standings.
Game 1: Park-Gilbert 4 BENU 2
The first game of this Friday doubleheader featured a battle of aces, as both teams were only able to muster seven hits.
On the circle for the Bucs today was Samara Romero (4-3), who pitched all seven innings. Romero struck out three batters and threw a total of 96 pitches.
The Redhawks got the scoring started in the top of the first with an RBI single to left field. In the bottom of the inning, Park-Gilbert tied things up at one. With runner Ledezma Romero on third, a passed ball during Alejandra Castro’s at-bat sent Romero home.
BENU took their one-run lead back in the top of the second, when Redhawks first baseman Gabriella Perez recorded a double and her second RBI of the game. The Bucs responded with a tying run in the bottom of the fourth, as second baseman Carolina Olivas brought a run in with her double down the left field line.
After what appeared to be a stalemate through four innings, Park-Gilbert seized momentum and the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. With a runner on second base, Castro got her first triple of the season to put the Bucs up 3-2. Castro reached on the very next at-bat, as catcher Lina Sanchez singled to left field.
Park-Gilbert played an error-free game for the sixth time in the 2025 season.
Game 2: Park-Gilbert 5 BENU 1
The Bucs grabbed another low-scoring victory in the opening day of this conference series, courtesy of the strong bat of Alejandra Castro today.
Park-Gilbert’s designated player and senior from Tucson, Ariz., broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the fifth inning with a three-run home run; her third homer of the 2025 season and 18th of her collegiate career.
Just like in game one, Perez put the Redhawks on the board first with a single RBI in the top of the third inning.
The Buccaneers wouldn’t tie things up at one until the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out and the bases loaded, third baseman Ileana Rivera had a sacrifice fly out to right field which brought the tying run home. At the next at-bat, Castro cleared the bags with her home run and put the Bucs in a comfortable 4-1 position.
The final run of the day came in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Ledezma singled to right field with runners on second and third base.
Elisa Garcia (3-6) got the start in game two, playing all seven innings and throwing 113 pitches; one shy of her season high against Nelson University Arizona on Feb. 28. Garcia posted a 1.00 ERA and recorded one strikeout.
Both teams recorded 10 hits in this contest. Park-Gilbert recorded two errors to BENU’s three.
Up Next
The Buccaneers and Redhawks conclude their series with another doubleheader Saturday, March 22. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. MST and the second game is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m. MST. The final two games of this conference series will be played tomorrow at Valley Christian High School in Chandler, Arizona.
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