The Park University Gilbert softball team split a double header with the University of Saint Katherine winning the first game 5-4 and falling in the nightcap 6-5 at Chandler Gilbert Community College. Both games were highly contested and came down to the last out to determine the outcome of the game.
Game 1 – Park Gilbert 5, Saint Katherine 4
Game one saw the Buccaneers use a five-run third to take a 5-4 win over the Firebirds. Jessica Mendoza (3-3) picked up the win in relief of starter Aubrey Bartlet who surrendered three runs in the first. Mendoza shut down the USK bats allowing only one run and five hits over the last six innings.
The Bucs five run third started with a walk to Danielle Farinas to start the inning. She moved to second on a bunt single by Courtney Beckwith. The Firebird second baseman was late to the cover the bag and then dropped the throw which allowed Farinas to move to third on the error. Nadia Gutierrez then looped a single over the head of USK third baseman Addi Betts to score Farinas. Destiny Alvarez then doubled to left center to score Beckwith with the second run of the inning. With two outs, first baseman Abril Nerey singled to drive in two more. Right Fielder Hayle Bayse then ripped a double to left to score Nerey, but she was thrown out trying to stretch the double into a triple. All told five runs on five hits and the Bucs had the lead 5-3.
It was all the Bucs would need as Mendoza kept the Firebirds at bay. They were able to add a run in the sixth and had the tying run on in the seventh but were not able to come up with the tying run.
Nerey went 2-3 with two RBI's and Beckwith also added two hits. Alvarez, Nerey (2), Basye, and Gutierrez all drove in runs.
Game 2 – Saint Katherine 6, Park Gilbert 5
The Bucs almost pulled off a miraculous comeback in the seventh but came up a run short in a 6-5 defeat.
Bothe teams exchanged solo runs in the first and third innings before the Bucs took the lead in the third on a Farinas single.
In the top half of the fifth, the Firebirds answered with a two runs off of Bucs starter Gabby Vallee to retake the lead.
In the seventh, the Bucs brought in Mendoza to try and keep USK on the number and give themselves a shot in the seventh, but Mendoza did not have the same magic as she did in game one and gave up two runs to give the Firebirds some insurance headed into bottom of the seventh and they would need those two runs as Bucs tried to make a furious comeback.
Gutierrez started the seventh with a triple, then Tristin Jamar was hit by a pitch and proceeded to steal second before Alvarez walked to load the bases.
With the bases loaded and no one out, the three- and four-hole hitters were coming up and things were looking up for a comeback. But those hopes seemed to be dashed when Raylissa Garcia and Haley Bayse popped up to put the Bucs down to their final out.
But this team would keep fighting as Zoe Corral was hit by a 3-2 pitch to bring home one run and Nerey was walked on four pitches to send in the second. With the tying and winning runs at second and third, Farinas stepped to the plate and hoped to duplicate the double from her last at bat. After falling behind 0-2, Farinas hit the ball hard but right back to the pitcher for the final out of the game and Park Gilbert had to settle for a split.
Vallee took the loss to fall to 4-4 in the circle, Alvarez had two hits as did Farinas and Gutierrez. Gutierrez also scored two runs.
These same two teams will dial it back up tomorrow afternoon with a double header at Chandler Gilbert Community College at noon.
