For the second time in as many days, the Park University Gilbert softball team split a doubleheader with Benedictine Mesa- winning the second game via walk-off. By splitting the series the Buccaneers are now 11-23 overall and 9-15 in conference play.
Game 1: Benedictine Mesa 5, Park Gilbert 4
Injuries have forced head coach Karin Gadberry to shuffle her defense around throughout this series. As the Buccaneers learn to adapt to their new positions, defensive woes continue to plague them.
A trio of errors prolonged the first and third innings. Three of those runs occurred in the first inning as the Redhawks jumped out to a lead that they held onto for the entirety of the contest.
Still, the Buccaneers put themselves in position to make a late rally. In the first and fourth innings, respectively, Megan Campbell and Raylissa Garcia hit RBI singles. In the third, Destinee Alvarez hit a leadoff double and scored on a groundout by Anissa Corrales.
Down 5-3 going into the final inning, Courtney Beckwith, Alvarez and Corrales strung together a triad of singles that allowed Beckwith to score and cut the lead to one. Unfortunately, Beckwith's run came with two outs and the comeback attempt came to an end with the next at-bat.
Alvarez and Danni Garcia were the only Buccaneers in game one to register multiple hits with two each.
Game 2: Park Gilbert 5, Benedictine Mesa 4
With Gabby Vallee only allowing one hit between the second and sixth innings, it looked like the Buccaneers would hold onto their one-run lead in the seventh inning. That was when Vallee gave up her second hit of the day, a double, and Jessica Mendoza came in but had her save opportunity blown by the tying run.
For the second time in as many games, the stage was set for a Buccaneers walk-off and this time, the hero was Destinee Alvarez. She singled through the left side to score Courtney Beckwith, who led off with a double to left field.
The win saw the Buccaneers battle back from deja vu, as they once again fell behind 3-0 in the first inning with freshman Payton Priefer in the circle. Priefer muscled her way out of the first, but was replaced by Vallee in the second; she finished with a line of two hits, one run and three strikeouts in five innings.
The third and fourth innings are where the Buccaneers comeback came into fruition. Danielle Farinas drove home both third innings runs, before Anissa Corrales's two-RBI double gave the Buccaneers their first lead of the game.
Corrales had another good day at the plate, going 3-4 with two RBI, one run and a double. Beckwith went 2-2 with two runs.
What's Next: The Buccaneers play their final home games next Thursday and Friday when they welcome Antelope Valley to Gilbert, Ariz. Both doubleheaders are scheduled to start at 11 a.m. at Cactus Yards.
