In a rematch of last weekend's doubleheader, the Park University Gilbert softball team traveled to play Arizona Christian in Glendale, Ariz. and fell in both games, 8-1 and 5-4.
Game One
The first game of the doubleheader felt like a continuation of last weekend's contests. Aubrey Bartlet got her first start of the season and fell victim to the Firestorm's hot bats early.
The Firestorm had a three-run opening inning; they proved to be the go-ahead runs and Bartlet was dealt the loss. Abril Nerey relieved her for the final two innings, but also had no luck getting things under control as three earned runs got by on her watch.
The lone Buccaneers' run in game one came courtesy of freshman Tristin Jamar, who continued the hot start to her collegiate career with a triple; she scored when Courtney Beckwith grounded out and allowed her to advance.
Game Two
In game two, the Buccaneers fell behind early, but got back into it with patient at-bats and taking advantage of what the opposing pitchers gave them. Gabby Vallee got the start, but only went two innings as an inside-the-park home run ended her three-run outing.
Jessica Mendoza came in in relief and threw two scoreless innings, which gave the Buccaneers a chance to crawl out of it. The Firestorm exhausted three pitchers to get out of the third and fourth innings as none of them could find the zone.
The Buccaneers' capitalized on the Firestorm's location issues. In the third inning, Raylissa Garcia hit the first of her two doubles on the day to bring home Beckwith. Brianna Munger drew a lead-off walk in the fifth and Danielle Farinas singled; they both scored following a pair of wild pitches and a fielding error.
The Firestorm's skipper had seen enough and subbed in his ace, Savannah Smith, to stop the bleeding. She gave up Garcia's second double of the day, which once again drove in Beckwith and gave the Buccaneers their first lead of the day.
Then, Smith buckled down and the eight runs left on base by the Buccaneers left on base in game two came back to haunt them. Smith got two runs from her offense in the bottom of the six to steal back a Firestorm victory.
What's Next
Friday afternoon's games marked the end of non-conference games. The Buccaneers went 2-8 in that stretch and hope to be right for conference play. They open up the Cal Pac season on March 3rd and 4th in Riverside, Calif. against La Sierra.
Notes:
In game two, eight out of nine Buccaneers' starters reached base. Brianna Munger, who pinch hit for the lone hitless starter, also recorded a hit.
With her two doubles, Raylissa Garcia joins Peyton Cushner as the only Buccaneers currently on the roster to have recorded two extra-base hits in a single game.
Tristin Jamar has registered a hit in all three games she's played in this season, which includes a single, double and triple.
Destinee Alvarez's four-game RBI streak was snapped in game one.
Abril Nerey has recorded five strikeouts in each of her appearances against Arizona Christian this season (2/18 & 2/25).
