(Tucson, AZ) The Park University Gilbert softball team concluded Tucson Invitational play Monday afternoon, splitting its games against the Dakota Wesleyan University Tigers and the University of Viterbo V-Hawks at Lincoln Park.
Game 1: DWU 10 Park-Gilbert 4
The Buccaneers struggled toward the end of their first game of the day, as they fell by six runs to the Dakota Wesleyan University Tigers (17-5, 0-0).
Park-Gilbert jumped to an early 2-0 lead after the first inning of play, as Ledezma Romero drove home a run with her single and Alejandra Castro drove home a run through a sac fly to center field.
The Tigers responded in the bottom of the second inning, taking a three 3-2 lead off a home run and ground-rule double which added two runs to the board. Valentina Perez tied things up at 3 in the top of the fourth, reaching home plate off an error at first base.
In the top of the sixth inning, second baseman Mady Lackey tied the game at four as she hit her first home run of the 2025 season.
The bottom of the sixth inning saw Dakota Wesleyan take the momentum right back as they scored six unanswered runs.
Elisa Garcia got the start on the mound for Park-Gilbert, throwing a total of 59 pitches in 3.1 innings played. Samara Romero came in relief for Garcia, while Nicole Darby finished up the top of the seventh inning.
The Bucs finished with four runs, 10 hits, and three errors. DWU totaled 10 runs, 11 hits, and one error.
Game 2: Park-Gilbert 8 Viterbo 1
The Bucs secured a convincing victory over the University of Viterbo V-Hawks (1-7, 0-0) to wrap up their final game at the Tucson Invitational as Park-Gilbert wasted no time getting runs on the board.
The bottom of the first inning saw the Buccaneers put up five runs. An error by Viterbo’s shortstop, during Ileana’s first at-bat of the contest, led to Lackey reaching home first. During the very next at-bat, Castro drove in the team’s second run with a single to left field. A passed ball advanced Castro to third base, and a wild pitch brought her home shortly after. Left fielder Monica Chon singled and reached first base on a fielder’s choice as starting pitcher Mana Risati reached home on the play. Three at-bats later, with the bases loaded, first baseman Noelle Gumm got walked which brought Chon home to make it 5-0 after one inning of play.
After the V-Hawks put up their lone run on the board after a ground rule double in the top of the third, Park-Gilbert responded with three of their own in the bottom of the third. Right fielder Sorcha Walker got an RBI with a single to right center, as catcher Bri Jackson scored Park’s sixth run of the game. Walker then scored herself after center fielder Kimora Phillips stole second base. Rivera closed out the inning and Park’s impressive outing on the offensive end, with a ground-rule double RBI; bringing the score to 8-1 after three innings of play.
Risati started this contest for the Bucs on the mound, throwing 59 pitches and striking out three batters. Nicole Darby closed out the final 3.2 innings as she picked up the win with 69 total pitchers and two strikeouts.
Park totaled eight runs, eight hits, and two errors in the final game of the day. Viterbo recorded one run, seven hits, and one error.
Up Next
The Park-Gilbert softball team returns to the field this Friday and Saturday at 11:00 a.m. PST and 1 p.m. PST, as they gear up for a series against the Arizona Christian University Firestorm. This will mark the beginning of conference play for the Bucs, and the first meeting between these two teams as Great Southwest Athletic Conference rivals. This Friday afternoon doubleheader will be played at McQueen Park in Gilbert, Arizona.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Garrett Campbell
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