The Park University Gilbert softball team completed play in the Tucson Invitational Games splitting a pair of games, beating Siena Heights 10-3 and dropping a close 2-1 contest to the University of Jamestown. The loss in the final game, snapped the Buccaneers 11-game winning streak.
Park Gilbert is now 14-5 on the season and return to conference play where they are 4-0 and in a tie for first place.
Game 1 – Park Gilbert 10, Siena Heights 3
After a slow start, the Buccaneer bats came alive late to earn a seven-run victory over Siena Heights.
The Bucs fell behind 1-0 as the Saints put one on the board in the first off of Buccaneer starter Christian Smith. They answered right back in the top of the second on a Raylissa Garcia RBI single to score Natalie Castro who doubled to start the inning.
The Bucs took the lead for good in the fourth on a bases loaded walk which gave them a 2-1 lead, but they broke the game open with a seven-run fifth. The inning was aided by two Saints errors, but the Bucs took advantage scoring all seven runs with two outs.
Park Gilbert had a chance to procure a run-rule victory, but SHU would not go away. The Saints scored one in the bottom of the fifth to keep the game going and then when Park scored one in the top of the sixth, they came back with one in the bottom half to force the game to go the distance.
Abril Nerey (8-2) picked up the win in relief of Smith. The seventh and eighth wins for Nerey in the Invitational gives her the all-time single season wins record, passing the previous record of six held by Gabby Vallee.
At the plate, Natalie Castro went 3-3 with four runs scored with a double, a triple and two walks. Ledezma Romero had three RBI with a triple and two walks.
As a team, the Bucs hit .429 (6-14) with two outs and .286 with runners in scoring position. The Bucs also put the leadoff runner on in five of the seven innings.
Game 2 – Jamestown 2, Park Gilbert 1
The Buccaneers drop a tough one to the Jimmies in a pitcher's duel.
Jamestown put two runs on the board in the second inning off of starter Mariah Martinez as three walks and a single gave Jimmies starter Sunny Halsey all of the run support she would need.
The Bucs would have a couple of opportunities to tie or take the lead, but could not come up with the necessary play to get them over the top.
The Bucs had an opportunity to get a run in the fourth, but Christina Robles was thrown out at the plate on a fly out to right.
In the sixth Carolina Olivas led off with an infield single, but was promptly double off when Ledezma Romero lined out to short.
In the seventh, the Bucs had the bases loaded with one out but two ground outs, one a fielder's choice where the Buc runner was forced at the plate and another right to the first baseman to end the game.
Martinez (5-3) took the hard luck loss.
Carolina Olivas had two hits to lead the Bucs in a game where they only managed to get six hits. \
Park Gilbert now has a weekend series with Westcliff in Irvine, Calif. With double headers Friday and Saturday. Both contests with take place at Noon and 2 p.m. Arizona time both days.
