The Park University Gilbert softball team swept the University of Antelope Valley in a double header this afternoon at Cactus Yards in Gilbert, Ariz., 5-4 and 3-2. The Buccaneers had to come from 2-0 deficits in both games to get the wins and needed some late inning defensive and offensive heroics to get it done. With both wins, the Buccaneers mover to 13-23, 11-15 in the Cal Pac.
Game 1 - - Park Gilbert 5, Antelope Valley 4
The Buccaneers used a four-run fifth to give themselves a lead they would not relinquish as the took game one of the twin bill 5-4.
Antelope Valley got on the board first with a two-run home run off of Bucs starter Gabby Vallee in the third inning.
The Buccaneers responded with one in the fourth on a Danni Garcia sacrifice fly to score Danielle Farinas who had doubled earlier in the in the inning.
In the fifth, the Pioneers brought in a new pitcher Naomi Martinez to replace starter McKenzie Potter who had been effective to that point. The Bucs greeted Martinez with a single by Anissa Corrales to left and a single by Destinee Alvarez which moved Corrales to third and she moved to second on the throw to third. Raylissa Garcia then tied the game with a sacrifice Fly to center to score Corrales. Haley Bayse then hit a ball in the hole between short and third which was misplayed and allowed Alvarez to move up to third. Park Gilbert took the lead on a double steal as Bayse stole second and Alvarez stole home on the throw down to second. With two outs, three consecutive singles brought home Bayse and one more run to give the Bucs four spot in the inning and a three-run lead in the game.
Vallee went out to start the sixth, but after a walk and a single to start the inning, Bucs head coach Karin Gadberry went to her bullpen and brought in Jessica Mendoza. Mendoza worked her way out of the jam with a two fielder's choices and a pop out to short.
But things would get nerve racking in the seventh as the Pioneers would get the first two runners on base. Then with one out, a single loaded the bases. Then shortstop Jolene Melendez doubled to score two runs and put the tying and go-ahead runners at second and third. Then the play of the game was made by the shortstop Alverez. On a routine ground ball, Alvarez quickly checked the runner at third and then started to make the throw to first, but before she released the ball, the runner took off for home. Alvarez, off platform, reloaded and gunned a sidearm strike to the plate to get the runner and keep the Buccaneers in the lead. Mendoza then got the final out on a routine ground ball to second and Bucs fans could wipe their brow in relief.
Vallee (7-7) got the win with five plus innings of work. Mendoza picked up her 2nd save of the season. Alvarez had two hits and the defensive play of the game. Megan Campbell also had two hit. Dannie Garcia had a hit and an RBI.
Game 2 – Park Gilbert 3, Antelope Valley 2 (8 Innings)
The Buccaneers struggled to get the bats going as UAV starter Potter held the Bucs in check for the first six innings. But then the bats broke out in a big way as the Bucs win a thriller in eight innings.
The Pioneers got on the board first in the same way they did in game one, a two-run homer. This time it was by Potter who drilled the long ball to show she can get it done at the plate as well as in the circle.
And Potter continued to keep the Bucs off the board until the seventh. With one out, Bayse doubled to left field and was followed by another double by Farinas to cut the lead to one. Then with two out and two runners on, Danni Garcia ripped a single up the middle to score Nadia Gutierrez who was running for Farinas to knot the game at 2-2.
After Bucs starter Abril Nerey kept the Pioneers in check in the top half of the eight, the Bucs would walk it off in the bottom half of the inning. Raylissa Garcia would be hit by a pitch to start the inning, then advance to second on a wild pitch. Courtney Beckwith then moved her to third with a sacrifice bunt before Zoe Corral would send the home fans home happy with single just over the glove of the shortstop to plate Garcia with the winning run.
Nerey (2-4) gets the win and the complete game, scattering eight hits and striking out seven. Corral and Farinas both had two hits in game two.
The Bucs and Pioneers close out the series tomorrow with another double header at Cactus Yards starting at 11 a.m.
