(Mesa, AZ) The Park University Gilbert softball team (13-15, 5-7) lost both games in its final doubleheader against the Hope International Royals (29-7, 12-4), Saturday afternoon at Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, Ariz.
The Buccaneers concluded their four-game series with the No. 19 ranked program in the NAIA, and played in their final home games of the 2025 season.
The Royals now sit comfortably atop the Great Southwest Athletic Conference standings, holding a five-game lead over Arizona Christian. Park-Gilbert remains in the playoff picture, as they occupy fourth place in the GSAC standings.
Saturday afternoon was a bittersweet moment for Park-Gilbert’s 13 seniors, who played in their final collegiate home game after being honored alongside family and friends.
The Bucs thanked these seniors for their contributions to Park-Gilbert softball: Kimora Phillips (#1), Carolina Olivas (#3), Ledezma Romero (#8), Monica Chon (#10), Sorcha Walker (#13), Valentina Perez (#14), Bri Jackson (#15), Lina Sanchez (#16), Elisa Garcia (#18), Alejandra Castro (#21), Kristin Smith (#25), Elisa Cueva (#30), and Ileana Rivera (#33).
Game 1: HIU 12 Park-Gilbert 2
After five innings of play, this contest was called off due to the run rule.
The Royals scored three runs in each of the first four innings in this opening contest, en route to their 12-2 win, as their opening frame saw them record RBI single and an RBI double which brought two runs home.
In the bottom of the first, Park got on the board as first baseman Noelle Gumm hit a leadoff home run for the second time in this series and the third time this season. Gumm became the first player in Buccaneers softball history to hit a leadoff home run in back-to-back days.
Hope International added another three runs to their total in the top of the second. Royals center fielder Sarah Reisler led off the inning with a homer to right field. Later in the frame, HIU earned a pair of RBIs through a double, as well as groundout with one out and a runner on third.
Park’s final run of the game came in the bottom of the third inning. With one out and a runner on third, Castro hit a sacrifice fly out to right field.
Hope International loaded the bases in the top of the fourth before the second out, and they drove in their final three runs off two RBI singles and an RBI walk.
On the mound for the Bucs in game one was Garcia (5-8), who threw 37 pitches in one inning played. Mana Risati came in relief pitching 2.1 innings before Nicole Darby closed out the final 1.2 innings of play.
The Bucs recorded four hits while HIU recorded 15 hits, as both squads played an error-free game.
Game 2: HIU 6 Park-Gilbert 4
Early on, the second game of this doubleheader featured a defensive struggle as neither team was able to get a hit on the board until the bottom of the second inning with two outs.
After 2.2 innings of scoreless softball, the Royals loaded the bases in the top of the third and drove home six runs in the frame via three singles, a wild pitch, and a double down the left field line.
Park-Gilbert took some of the momentum back in the bottom of the third. With Olivas on first base, Jackson pinch hit for Perez and hit her fourth home run of the season.
After Rivera hit a single advancing to second off an in field error, in the bottom of the fourth, Garcia singled to left center for her first RBI of the day.
Olivas then hit her second home run of the year in the bottom of the fifth, bringing the final score to 6-4.
On the mound for the Bucs in game two was Samara Romero (5-6), who stuck out three batters on 77 total pitches. Romero played 2.2 innings before Garcia came in relief and closed the game out with one strikeout on 54 pitches.
Park-Gilbert had seven hits and no errors, while the Royals tallied 10 hits and one error.
Up Next
The Bucs will now hit the road for the remaining eight games on the season. First up, the Spirit of Ottawa University Arizona (23-12, 3-6) next Friday and Saturday, April 11 & April 12. Both days will include doubleheader action, with first pitch on Friday scheduled for 4:00 p.m. MST and game two at 6:00 p.m. MST. These games will be played at Willow Canyon High School in Surprise, Ariz. Following this series, the Bucs wrap up the regular season against Embry-Riddle in Prescott, Arizona.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Garrett Campbell
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