By: Garrett Campbell
GILBERT, Ariz. --- The Park University Gilbert softball team (14-16, 1-7) earned a pair of wins against the Westcliff University Warriors (12-16), in a Wednesday afternoon doubleheader at McQueen Park in Gilbert, Ariz.
The Buccaneers, now riding a four-game winning streak, put on a defensive clinic Wednesday afternoon as they shut the Warriors out in both contests. Park-Gilbert took a 1-0 win in the first game, followed by a dominant 10-0 win in Game 2.
In Park's current four-game winning streak, three of those games saw the run rule applied after five innings.
This was the first time since Feb. 25, 2023, that the Bucs didn't allow a run in a doubleheader. They defeated the Bethel University Indiana Pilots 17-0 in Game 1 and 8-0 in Game 2.
Game 1: Park 1 Westcliff 0
The first game of this non-conference doubleheader proved to be a defensive struggle. The lone run of this contest came from center fielder Ari Fjeldsted who scored an inside the park home run in the bottom of the third.
At the plate, catcher Noelle Gumm and third baseman Lizzy Aguilar went 1-2. Fjeldsted went 1-3 with one RBI.
In the circle to start Game 1 was Samara Romero (2-2), who struck out three. Romero allowed just four hits and no walks through five innings, before Yazmine Bernal came in relief. Bernal pitched the final two innings and earned her first save of the season, recording two strikeouts and two hits allowed.
Park-Gilbert logged five hits to Westcliff's six, as neither team recorded an error.
Game 2: Park 10 Westcliff 0 (5 inn)
The Buccaneer bats came alive in Game 2 as Park-Gilbert logged 10 runs, eight hits, and three home runs.
Two of those homers came from catcher Bri Titus. The freshman from Snonomish, Wash., joined teammate Anna Chavez as the only two players to log at least two home runs in a single game this year. Titus and Chavez are in a three-way tie, with Embry-Riddle's Leah Salas, for the second most home runs in the Great Southwest Athletic Conference.
Gumm got the first runs on the board with an RBI single in the first inning and an RBI double in the third. On the very next at bat, Titus homered to center field to put the Bucs up 4-0.
Later in the bottom of the third, second baseman Mady Lackey hit a two-run home run. This was Lackey's first homer of the season.
In the fourth inning, Fjeldsted put the Bucs up 7-0 with an RBI double and later scored off an error from the infield. Titus then added the game's final runs with another home run to center field.
Daysy Juarez (3-1) held down the circle for Game 2, pitching all five innings. Juarez struck out two batters and came close to throwing a no hitter, as Westcliff's lone hit came in the top of the fourth.
Gumm went a perfect 3-3 at the plate with two RBIs and two runs scored. Titus went 2-3 with four RBIs.
Both teams recorded two errors in this contest.
Up Next
The Buccaneers return to McQueen Park tomorrow, March 26 at 11 a.m. MST, when they resume GSAC play and begin their four-game series against the La Sierra University Golden Eagles (6-21, 0-12). Game 2 is slated to begin at 1 p.m. MST.