The Park University Gilbert Baseball team could have thrown in the towel after falling behind by 13 runs after six innings. It would have been easy to say "it's the same old story and said we'll get them next time." But tonight, the Buccaneers dug deep and utilized three five-run innings in the seventh, eighth and ninth to help fuel a comeback to beat the 19th-ranked Benedictine Mesa Redhawks 19-17.at Gene Autry Park in Mesa, Ariz.
"Can't say enough about the effort tonight," said Buccaneers head coach Kelly Stinnett. "We had a couple of ugly innings, but we never gave up, kept battling at the plate and this is a good win to get heading into the conference play."
The game started as so many have for the Buccaneers this season, giving up multiple runs in the first inning to fall behind. The Bucs have surrendered a run in the first inning to their opponent in every game so far this season. This time it was four runs, fueled by the three-run home run by Redhawks cleanup hitter Michael Garverick. Bucs starter Matthew Medina settled down in the second to hold the Redhawks scoreless.
Park Gilbert made a mini comeback in the top of the third scoring three runs. The inning was started by graduate centerfielder Anton Melendez who tripled in his first at bat of the season. Julian Garcia-Schroeder grounded out to second to get Melendez home and the Bucs were on the board. Andre Avalos then followed with a single and scored on an Austin Chouinard double. Enrique Figueroa courtesy ran for Chouinard and scored on a DJ Downen single to left. This cut the lead to 4-3.
After Benedictine scored two in the bottom of the third and Park Gilbert responded with a run in the fourth, things started to get crazy. In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Redhawks scored 10 runs behind five walks, two hit by pitches, and an error to go along with three hits.
After tacking on what might have been considered at the time an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, the Redhawks held a 17-4 advantage entering the top of the seventh.
Melendez got things started again with a single to right, followed by Garcia-Schroeder being hit by a pitch. Left fielder Diego Bejarano singled to left to score Melendez. Then after Bejarano stole second, an errant throw allowed Garcia-Schroeder to score and Bejarano to advance to third. After a Cole Sneed walk, Figueroa pinch hit for Andrew Dresden and worked a walk himself. Bejarano scored on a wild pitch during the at bat. First baseman Bryce Beck then doubled to right to score Sneed and Figueroa to close out the scoring in the seventh.
The Buccaneers need to keep the Redhawks on the number to continue this comeback and called on right hander Jackson Moltz (1-0) who gave the Bucs two innings of scoreless relief in his first outing of the season, allowing only two hits. He picked up his first career win.
The top of the eight saw Melendez get things started again by getting hit by a pitch. This was followed by infield single by Garcia-Schroeder and another hit by pitch to Bejarano to load the bases. After Sneed hit into a fielder's choice for the second out in the inning, the Bucs erupted behind an infield hit by Downen, a Figueroa double to clear the bases and then a Beck double to score Figueroa.
Now down by only three, momentum was clearly in the Buccaneers corner. After Moltz worked out of a mini jam in the bottom half of the eighth, the ninth began with a familiar refrain, Anton Melendez reaching base to start an inning, followed by a Garcia-Schroeder single. Melendez scored after advancing on a couple of wild pitches. After the bases were loaded behind walks to Bejarano and Downen, two runs scored on a throwing error by the Redhawks third baseman. Beck then doubled to center scoring pinch runner Edgar Chacon and Figueroa to close out the scoring for the Buccaneers.
Park Gilbert closer Diego Bustillos came in shut things down in the ninth and set the Redhawks down 1-2-3 with two strikeouts to pick up his first save of the season.
Beck and Figueroa had five and four RBI's respectively in the game, which set a new Park Gilbert record for Beck, breaking the mark set by Cade Maestas last year versus Ottawa (Ariz.). Beck had three hits on the day to lead the Bucs. Melendez reached base five times in six plate appearances. Four times he led off innings by reaching base. In each of those innings, the Bucs scored multiple runs.
The Buccaneers now start conference play as they host Providence Christian Friday and Saturday for three games at Indian School Park in Scottsdale, Ariz. Friday's game starts at 3 p.m. and Saturday's double header starts at 11 a.m.
