The Park University Gilbert baseball team's non-conference woes continued to get the better of them in the Tucson Invitational at Kino Sports Complex. They dropped Tuesday afternoon's doubleheader to Jamestown and Bemidji State by scores of 4-2 and 3-1, respectively.

Game 1- Jamestown 4, Park Gilbert 2

The Buccaneers got themselves on the board almost immediately in game one. Alex Stinnett hit a one-out double to left field and stole third base to get things started. He came home thanks to an Austin Chouinard single to center field.

The second inning started similarly. Logan White reached on a lead-off walk, but was thrown out when Cade Maestas reached on a fielder's choice. That set up Logan Livingston for a two-out single that scored Maestas. With two early Bucs' runs, that marked the end of the day for Jimmies' starter, Ben Ray. It almost marked the end of the Buccaneers' scoring production in that game.

In his first start of the season, Nick Marcon was stellar. The journeyman hurler threw six innings and gave up just six hits and one earned run. Unfortunately, three unearned runs also came across while he was on the mound due to the Bucs' defensive mishaps.

Maestas and DJ Downen each committed an error that prolonged the second inning and led to three Jimmies runs getting across. They got one more across in the fourth and despite Marcon's impressive debut, he was handed the loss.

Connor Barton followed up Marcon's with two scoreless innings of relief, keeping the Jimmies at bay but the Buccaneers' offense was unable to work any late-inning magic.

Chouinard and Stinnett were the only players who went 2-4 on the day. Stinnett added a walk and stolen base.

Game 2- Bemidji State 3, Park Gilbert 1

Defensive woes continued to be what plagued the Buccaneers in game two. Coupled with a lack of timely hitting, it was a recipe for a loss to NCAA D2 Bemidji State.

Luke Turner, a transfer who spent time at D1 Coastal Carolina, made his Park Gilbert debut in the starting role. He went three innings and gave up just two hits after throwing 51 pitches. But the Buccaneers committed a whopping five errors against the Beavers, meaning that just one of their three runs were earned. 

Meanwhile, the offense did not necessarily struggle to get hits against Bemidji, but they did struggle to do it when it mattered most. Despite scoring just one run, the Buccaneers managed 11 hits; they stranded seven runners on base.

The lone Bucs' run came across in the eighth inning when Aaron Stinnett, who got on base via single, scored when Chouinard doubled to left field. Chouinard was one of two Buccaneers in game two to have two or more hits; the other was Joel Adamson, who went 2-4.

What's Next: The Buccaneers return to conference play this Thursday and Friday, when they welcome Marymount California to town. Those games will take place at Tempe Diablo Field #1.