PRESCOTT, Ariz. --- The Park University Gilbert softball team defeated the Hope International University Royals in the opening round of the 2025 Great Southwest Athletic Conference Championships, Tuesday afternoon at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University softball field in Prescott, Ariz.
The Buccaneers will move on to face host school Embry-Riddle in the next round, after upsetting the NAIA's No. 18 ranked Royals squad in the opening game of this double-elimination tournament.
Park-Gilbert jumped out to an early 2-0 lead through one inning of play. After a leadoff double from first baseman Noelle Gumm and a single from center fielder Ledezma Romero, an infielding error on third baseman Ileana Rivera's at-bat drove both runners home.
The Bucs then tacked on another pair of runs in the top of the third inning. Right after Rivera's single to center field, all-conference designated player Alejandra Castro doubled to left but advanced to third off another HIU infielding error. On the very next at-bat, catcher Lina Sanchez brought a run in with her sacrifice fly to left field as Castro scored.
Park-Gilbert held the conference's regular season champion scoreless in every inning except the third and seventh. Hope International had the bases loaded by the fourth at-bat in the bottom of the third, as they proceeded to drive in one run on three-consecutive at-bats; making the score 4-3.
Momentum then swung back in the Bucs' favor, as they took their four-run lead back courtesy of a three-run homer from second baseman Mady Lackey. The senior infielder from Spanish Fork, Utah, hit her fourth home run of the season.
In the top of the sixth, the Buccaneers added their eighth and final run to the board off a double-steal; as Rivera stole and Gumm stole home.
With one out on the board in bottom of the seventh, the Royals again chipped away at the lead with a double that brought two runs home but proceeded to groundout on their final two at bats.
On the circle to start this opening-round postseason game for the Bucs was Samara Romero, who moved to 9-8 on the year. Romero pitched six innings and struck out four batters, before Elisa Garcia came in relief for the final inning. Garcia recorded her first save of the 2025 season.
The Bucs had 12 hits to the Royals' 11, as both teams recorded a pair of errors in this contest.
The Park-Gilbert softball team returns to action tomorrow, April 30 at 3:00 p.m. MST, as they face the Embry-Riddle Eagles on their home turf in Prescott. The winner will advance to the championship round, and the loser will drop to the contender's bracket to face the winner of Hope International/Arizona Christian in a win or go home matchup. Information on streaming, stats, tickets, and more can be found on the softball schedule located on the Park-Gilbert athletics website.
