(Mesa, AZ) The Park University Gilbert softball team (13-13, 5-5) dropped a pair of games to the Hope International University Royals (27-7, 9-4), in a Friday afternoon doubleheader at Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, Ariz.
The Buccaneers move to .500 both overall and in conference play, following the first half of a series against the No. 19 program in the NAIA and leader of the Great Southwest Athletic Conference standings.
Despite the losses Friday afternoon, Park-Gilbert made history as they broke the school’s single-season home run record (22, 2023); courtesy of a pair of homers from Noelle Gumm and Mana Risati. The Bucs now have 23 on the year, with 10 games remaining in the 2025 season.
Game 1: HIU 11 Park-Gilbert 2
While the Park-Gilbert bats came to play in the first game of this doubleheader, the Buccaneers struggled on the defensive end as the run rule came into effect after five innings of play.
This contest saw a combined three home runs and 21 hits from both squads.
Hope International got the scoring started in the top of the first with a home run from Emma McCraw with two outs on the board. They took a 2-0 lead after a wild pitch sent a runner on third home.
In the bottom of the first, the Bucs cut their deficit in half as Gumm hit her second leadoff homer of the 2025 season.
The Royals started to run away with the momentum in the top of the second inning, scoring four runs in the frame. Leadoff hitter Sarah Reisler got an RBI single, and on the next at-bat, Vivian Little homered to center field which brought three runs home. Park-Gilbert took a run back in the bottom of the second when left fielder Kimora Phillips got an RBI single with runners on second and third base.
Hope International scored another three runs in the top of the third inning, as Reisler brought a pair of runs home with her double down the left field line. Shortly after, on Little’s groundout, an infielding error sent Reisler home.
The top of the fourth inning saw the Royals add the final two runs to the board via a single RBI and a wild pitch leading to Karlie Bilbrey stealing home.
Samara Romero (5-5) got the start in the opening game of this doubleheader, throwing 43 pitches and one strikeout before Risati came in to relieve Romero in the top of the second. Risati threw 44 pitches before Nicole Darby came in to close out the final inning.
Hope International’s starting pitcher Kaitlyn Maaske moved to 13-2 on the season.
Park-Gilbert had six hits and one error, to Hope International’s 15 hits and no errors.
Game 2: HIU 7 Park-Gilbert 5
The Bucs showed more fight in the final game of the day, but ultimately fell short against the No. 19 ranked Royals in this contest.
Hope International took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first off a sacrifice fly to right field with no outs on the board.
Park-Gilbert earned a pair of runs and took a lead in the bottom of the first. With runners on the corners, left fielder Lina Sanchez got an RBI single to left field. At the next at-bat, Risati got doubled to left which which drove the second run in.
The Royals took their lead back in the top of the second with a score off a wild pitch and an RBI single. They extended their lead to 6-2 after the top of the third inning, with an RBI on three different at-bats.
Risati, who had one of her best hitting efforts of the season Friday afternoon, chipped away at HIU’s lead with a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth; her second homer in 2025. This was the home run that broke the Buccaneers’ single-season record which stood for two years. In this contest, Risati went 2-4 at the plate with four RBIs.
Hope International added one last run to the board via an RBI single with two outs.
Elisa Garcia (5-7) got the start in game two and she occupied the circle for all seven innings. Garcia threw 122 total pitches and struck out one batter.
Park-Gilbert recorded 13 hits and one error in game two, compared to HIU’s 12 hits and no errors.
Up Next
The Bucs gear up for their final doubleheader against the Royals, and their final home games of the 2025 season. Park-Gilbert will honor its 13 seniors before the first pitch at 11:00 a.m. MST, while game two is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m. MST. These games will once again be played at Arizona Athletic Grounds.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Garrett Campbell
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