The Park University Gilbert softball team played two tight games today, but their streak of splitting conference series ended as they were swept by Simpson. With the loss, they fell to 8-18 on the season and 6-10 in conference play.
Game 1- Simpson 3, Park Gilbert 1
Similar to yesterday's game two, the Buccaneers received a superb performance from their pitchers, but were unable to provide enough run support to flip the script.
Freshman Payton Priefer threw three, one-hit innings before being tagged for two runs in the fourth inning. She gave up just her second hit of the day, a double, before hitting the next batter. With two on, head coach Karin Gadberry chose to err on the side of caution and bring in her ace, Gabby Vallee.
That was when the Redhawks took a three-run homer, but that fourth inning was really the only blemish on the day by Priefer or Vallee. Vallee pitched the rest of the way and gave up just two more hits.
In all, the Redhawks were limited to just five hits, but the Buccaneers could only muster up four. Destinee Alvarez tried to start a rally with a leadoff single in the seventh; she scored when Haley Basye hit an RBI double, but that was all she wrote.
Basye was the only Buccaneer to have more than one hit in game one, finishing 2-3 with an RBI and double.
Game 2- Simpson 4, Park Gilbert 3
In game two, it was a walkoff effort by Simpson that sank the Buccaneers' ship. Aubrey Bartlet surrendered a two-run homer, before a double and single ended the game.
To that point, Bartlet was having a solid day, herself. Through the first six innings, she relinquished just one run (which came in the fourth inning), two walks and scattered eight hits. With Bartlet in the circle, the Buccaneers were able to score three runs.
Meanwhile, the Buccaneers led 2-0 thanks to leadoff walks drawn by Courtney Beckwith and Danielle Farinas, which turned into runs in the first and fourth innings. Farinas drove in the first inning run with a double; she scored her fourth inning run after a Basye double, followed by back-to-back walks.
The Buccaneers retook the lead in the fifth inning when Alvarez, Basye and Danni Garcia singled, plus an Anissa Corrales walk to score Alvarez.
Alvarez and Basye finished the game 2-4, while Alvarez added a run. Farinas went 2-4 with a double, run, RBI and walk.
What's Next: The Buccaneers continue their stay in California, but a few hours south to play Westcliff in Irvine, Calif. Doubleheaders are scheduled for April 5 (2 p.m.) and April 6 (11 a.m.).
