PRESCOTT, Ariz. --- The Park University Gilbert softball team fell to the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Eagles by a score of 7-1, Tuesday afternoon in the second round of the 2025 Great Southwest Athletic Conference Championships in Prescott, Ariz.
With their first loss in this double-elimination tournament, the Buccaneers now drop to the contender's bracket; to face Arizona Christian this evening in a win or go home contest. The winner of Park-Gilbert/Arizona Christian will move on to the championship round face Embry-Riddle in a postseason rematch.
Embry-Riddle, the home team and host school of the GSAC Championships, took an early 1-0 after the bottom of the first, courtesy of an inflelding error with the bases loaded. Two innings later, the Eagles extended their lead to 3-0 off a two-run homer from third baseman Autumn Sulusi.
Park-Gilbert's only run of the game came in the top of the sixth inning, when third baseman and two-time GSAC Player of the Week Ileana Rivera hit an RBI single. Bucs first baseman and leadoff Noelle Gumm scored after her triple two at-bats earlier.
In the bottom of the sixth, the GSAC's home run leader Leah Salas hit a three-run homer to extend the Eagles' lead to five runs. The final fun of the game came off a fielder's choice with a runner on third.
Samara Romero (9-9), who started in yesterday's win over the top seeded Hope International Royals, got the nod again in this semifinal game. She pitched 4.0 innings, striking out one batter. Elisa Garcia once again came in relief to close out the final two innings. Garcia threw a total of 37 pitches.
The Bucs had five hits and one error in this contest, as the Eagles recorded 12 hits and no errors.
Park-Gilbert has to quickly pivot and prepare for the win or go home game against the Arizona Christian Firestorm, taking place this evening at 6:00 p.m. MST in Prescott, Ariz. The Firestorm are coming off a first-round loss to Embry-Riddle, but kept themselves alive with a win over the top-seeded Royals. Information on streaming, stats, tickets, and more have been posted to the softball schedule on the Park-Gilbert athletics website.
