(Mesa, AZ) The Park University Gilbert softball team (23-21, 6-12) split a pair of games with the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Eagles (26-16, 11-7), in a Friday afternoon home doubleheader at Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, Ariz.
The Buccaneers responded from their Game 1 loss with a Game 2 win, which saw Park-Gilbert score seven runs in the sixth inning. With this doubleheader split, Embry-Riddle and Park-Gilbert remain in third and sixth place respectively, in the Great Southwest Athletic Conference standings.
Park’s 12-9 victory in Game 2 marked the second win against Embry-Riddle in program history.
Game 1: ERAU 8 PARK 1
After a scoreless first inning, the Eagles jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the second.
The Bucs added their first run to the board in the bottom of the third, courtesy of an RBI double from left fielder Dionna Leanio.
Embry-Riddle responded with a pair of home runs in the top of the fourth and fifth to make the score 6-1. The Eagles then hit a third homer in the top of the second to add another pair of runs.
Samara Romero (5-4) started Game 1 in the circle, pitching 5.0 innings and throwing one strikeout. Yaz Bernalcame in relief in the sixth inning, throwing 36 total pitches against the final 10 Embry batters.
At the plate, Leanio went 1-2 with one RBI.
Game 2: PARK 12 ERAU 9
A high-scoring first inning saw the Eagles put up four runs in the top and the Bucs scoring three in the bottom of the frame. With the bases loaded, Bucs first baseman Anna Chavez cleared the bags with a double to center field.
After a scoreless second inning, catcher Bri Titus tied things up at four with her ninth homer of the season. ERAU added a run in the top of the fifth.
In the bottom of the fifth, first baseman Noelle Gumm ripped a homer to right center; her sixth of the year. The Eagles added another run in the top of the sixth to make the score 7-5.
The Bucs then scored a game-high seven runs in the bottom of the sixth, highlighted by a ground-rule double from right fielder Anna Chavez as the Bucs took a three-run lead into the final frame. The last two runs of this contest were off a two-run homer from ERAU’s Leah Salas.
Daysy Juarez was the starter in the circle for Park-Gilbert in Game 2. Juarez pitched 4.0 innings and struck out one batter, before Yaz Bernal (8-8) came in to close out the final three innings. Bernal threw two strikeouts and gave up four hits in her eighth win of the season.
At the plate, Titus went 2-2 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Chavez went 2-4 with four RBIs and a double.
Up Next
Park-Gilbert and Embry-Riddle will meet again tomorrow afternoon, as they close out this GSAC series with another doubleheader at Arizona Athletic Grounds. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. MST while Game 2 is slated to begin at 1 p.m. MST.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Garrett Campbell
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