Behind a walk-off hit in extra innings and a superb starting pitching performance, the Park University Gilbert softball team secured their first two victories of the season with 5-4 and 3-2 wins over Carroll College.
Game One
Tied 4-4 in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Buccaneers had a chance to capitalize on the Saints' missed opportunity to score. With the international tiebreaker rule in effect, Raylissa Garcia walked and Destinee Alvarez singled to load the bases with no outs.
Beckwith tried to drive home the winning run and reached first base herself, but it was not quite enough to get Nadia Gutierrez safely into home. It was Haley Basye who managed to knock one into the right-center gap and complete the walk-off win.
The win was all the more satisfying considering the Buccaneers had to fight back from an early deficit. Beckwith dropped a flyball in the first inning, before starting pitcher Abril Nerey gave up an RBI triple. Nerey settled in after that and threw four scoreless innings before she was relieved by Jessica Mendoza, who gave up just one run the rest of the way.
The Saints scored three runs in that inning before the Buccaneers battled back with two of their own. The heart of the order was responsible for those runs as well, as Beckwith drove in Garcia and Basye drove in Alvarez with singles. It took two more runs in the fifth inning to give the Bucs the lead, but a Saint run in the sixth forced the extra inning.
Alvarez finished the game 4-5 and Garcia continued her hot-streak with a two-hit outing, including crucial hits in the first and final innings.
Game Two
After struggling against a formidable opponent in her first two starts, Buccaneers' ace Gabby Vallee was locked in on Saturday afternoon. She threw the second complete game of her career and fanned 11 before allowing a hit en route to a six-hit performance; she also struck out six.
It helped that the Buccaneers offense was able to spot Vallee a three-run first inning lead. The bats were patient and took what they were given as Saints' starter Josie Barker struggled to find the zone. Beckwith and Gutierrez each scored a run as Barker walked the first five batters. Danni Garcia's single brought Garcia home for the third and final run the Buccaneers would score this afternoon.
Two Saints runs did make it across between the fourth and fifth innings, but Vallee capped off the day with two more shutout innings and secured a victory for the Buccaneers.
Notes:
Amber Saiz's seven-game reached base streak ended in game one against Carroll. The streak started on April 27, 2021 against Simpson last season.
What's Next
The Buccaneers are now 2-4 on the season and play next on Feb. 18, when they host a doubleheader against Arizona Christian at Cactus Yards in Gilbert, Ariz.
