The Park University Gilbert baseball team fell behind early in both ends of their double header with the College of Idaho on Friday at Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, Ariz., and could not make up the deficit as they dropped both games losing 10-4 in game one and 13-8 in game two. Despite the two losses, history was made by a pair of Buccaneers today.

Game 1 – College of Idaho 10, Park Gilbert 4

A five-run first inning by the Yotes put the Buccaneers in a hole they were never able to climb out of as the Bucs fell by six runs in the first game of the double header.

Park was able to respond with two runs in the bottom of the first but could only muster two more runs for the game as COI posted a pair of runs in the third and fifth innings along with a solo run in the eighth to seal the deal.

Sophomore Trey Langan (0-1) who holds the school record for wins in a season allowed five hits and seven runs (five earned) in three innings of work. Sophomore Isaiah Csader made his Park debut and threw well allowing three runs in five innings. Yotes centerfielder Trevor Watkins was the only player to solve Csader on the afternoon hitting two home runs. Xavier Merritt threw a scoreless ninth in a solid debut.

Offensively, Gino Caperon had two hits and an RBI, Diego Bejarano knocked in the two runs in the first with a triple in the first.   

Bejarano tied the record for the most games played in Park history with 115 tying Austin Chouinard who played at Park from 2020-2023.

Game 2 – College of Idaho 13, Park Gibert 8

The Yotes were on top from the start of the game as they put 11 runs on the board in the first five innings as they held off a late rally by the Bucs 13-8.

Errors and walks put the Bucs in a precarious position as the Yotes did not have to do much to get runners on and then forced to throw strikes, COI took advantage as they got key hits to drive in runs.

The Buc bats did not get going until the fifth as they put a pair of runs on the board in the fifth, seventh and eighth innings and a solo run in the ninth on Andrew Allanson's first home run of the year.

Park Gilbert actually outhit COI 14-9, but 11 walks, three errors and two hit by pitches provided the Yotes with 16 free bases.

Park starter Ben Staiger allowed six runs (three earned) on only two hits in his debut, He walked four, hit a batter and struck out four. Kindrick Tipping also made his Park mound debut and allowed four runs (two earned) in two innings of work. He walked three and K'ed three.  Aidan Guthery pitched four solid innings allowing three runs on three hits. Mike Short threw a scoreless ninth in his debut as well.

At the plate Andrew Allanson had a monster day at the plate hitting for the first cycle in school history.   His day started innocuous enough with two ground outs to second in his first two at bats. The cycle would come over his last four plate appearances of the day. In the fifth, Allanson doubled to right, in the sixth he would triple to right in the same fashion. In the eighth, he would get an infield single in the 5-6 hole as the Yotes shortstop was unable to make a play on the ball. That left a home run to complete the cycle. Allanson set the school single season record for home runs last season with 11. So you knew he would be trying to get something in the air and he did, scorching an opposite field home run in the ninth to the enjoyment of his teammates even though the end result of the game is not what the team would have wanted.

The Bucs have an opportunity to even the series tomorrow in the final game of the four-game set at 10 a.m. at Tempe Diablo on Field No. 1.

Please note: Parking for tomorrow's game at Tempe Diablo will be in the main stadium parking lot only.