The Park University Gilbert baseball team opened its 2022 campaign with a 10-2 loss against Ottawa University at the Surprise Minor League Complex on Royals Field No. 6. The Bucs had a mixture of the old guard and some fresh new faces in the lineup who all wanted to show they deserve additional playing time moving forward.
The Spirit (1-0) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning behind a two-run homer from Spirit three-hole hitter Adrian Salazar off of Buccaneers starter Frank Raccioppo. But after giving up those two runs, Raccioppo settled in to throw three scoreless innings to keep Park Gilbert in the game
The Bucs battled back in the top half of the fifth. Centerfielder Chris Amador led off with a line drive single to center, then after advancing to second via a wild pitch from Spirit hurler Tyler Bare, scored on a single by second baseman Logan Livingston to left.  With one out, catcher Alex Stinnett drove a single to right moving Livingston to third. Freshman Mason Rayburn ran for Stinnett and proceeded to steal second as part of a double steal. Livingston started home as the throw went to second but was cut off by the shortstop who proceeded to throw the ball away in an attempt to get Livingston at home. Livingston scored and the game was knotted at 2-2.
The Spirit retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth on two bases loaded walks with two outs. Both runs were unearned as an error by third baseman Joaquin Martinez kept the inning alive for the Spirit. Those two runs chased Racioppo who was replaced by southpaw Luke Richards making his third career appearance as a reliever.  He was able to stem the tide and get the Bucs out of the inning without further damage.
Richards was not a fortunate in the top half of the sixth as the Spirit tacked on 4 more unearned runs after another Martinez error at third started a rally that was finished by a bases clearing double.
The Bucs bat went silent for the final four innings as they went 1-2-3 in each inning, striking out six times.
The Spirit finished the scoring with another two-run blast by Salazar in the bottom of the eight off of reliever Connor Barton.
Racioppo (0-1) finished with 4 2/3 innings of work, allowing four runs (two earned), he walked three and struck out four. Richards threw 1 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and four unearned runs. Aaron Gutierrez made his debut throwing a scoreless seventh and Barton allowed two runs in his only inning in the eight.
At the plate, Travis Moore went 1-4 in his debut with a walk and a double. Joaquin Martinez also had a double in his first appearance as a Buc. Stinnett, Joey Martinez Amador and Livingston all got their first knocks of the season.
The Bucs next contest will be their home opener against the University of British Columbia at the Tempe Diablo minor league complex field 1 on Friday, Feb. 4 at 2 p.m.
