By: Garrett Campbell
GILBERT, Ariz. --- The Park University Gilbert softball team (16-16, 3-7) earned a pair of wins in a doubleheader against the La Sierra University Golden Eagles (6-23, 0-14), Thursday afternoon at McQueen Park in Gilbert, Ariz.
The Buccaneers return to .500 in overall play, courtesy of a six-game win streak that has spanned over the course of 11 days.
This is Park-Gilbert's longest winning streak since head coach TJ Stower was hired to lead the program in July 2024. The Bucs are five games away from tying the longest winning streak in program history with 11, a feat achieved in 2023. Park moves to 14-6 all-time against La Sierra.
Game 1 of this doubleheader saw the Buccaneers take an 11-6 win, followed by a 9-0 shutout of the Golden Eagles.
Park-Gilbert has shutout its opponent in four of its last five games. They have won via run rule in four of the last six games.
Game 1: Park 11 LSU 6
The Eagles opened this Great Southwest Athletic Conference series up with a home run in the top of the second.
Park-Gilbert responded with seven runs in the bottom of the third. The Bucs had the bases loaded by the fourth at-bat of the frame. Designated player Bri Titus got an RBI with her single to right field, and left fielder Dionna Leannio scored off an error in the infield. First baseman Anna Chavez and right fielder Mady Lackey made the score 4-1 with RBI singles. With the bases still loaded, second baseman Amaya Ruiz got walked and center fielder Ari Fjeldsted drove in two runs with a double.
After LSU tacked on two runs in the top of the fourth, the Bucs responded with a pair of their own. Lackey got her second RBI with a double to right field, and shortstop Kayla Seto grounded out with a runner on third base.
The Eagles made the score 9-4 with a double that drove in two runs in the top of the fifth. Titus responded in the bottom of the frame with her sixth homer of the season, a shot to center field that drove in two runs. The final score of this contest came from an RBI single from La Sierra.
In the circle, to start Game 1 for Park-Gilbert, was Yaz Bernal (7-7). Bernal pitched 5.0 innings, threw one strikeout, and gave up nine hits. Samara Romero finished out the final two innings and faced the final nine batters.
Titus went a perfect 3-3 at the plate with three RBIs, one walk, and two runs scored. Lackey went 2-4 with two RBIs, and Fjeldsted went 2-5 with two RBIs.
Overall, the Bucs and Eagles combined for 25 hits and three errors.
Game 2: Park 9 LSU 0 (5 inn)
After a scoreless first inning, the Buccaneers scored five runs in the bottom of the second. A pair of errors led to scores from Chavez, Seto, and Lackey. Fjeldsted hit a sac fly to center field for an RBI, and Titus drove a run in with a single to center field.
In the top of the third, Fjeldsted picked up another RBI with a double to center field. An error in the infield led to run No. 7 as pinch runner Madi Ban scored.
Third baseman Lizzy Aguilar then walked the Bucs off with a double to right center, bringing two runs in and effectively putting an end to the contest.
Grace Jump (3-6) held down the circle for Park in Game 2, logging one strikeout and allowed just two hits. Jump pitched all five innings.
In total, the Bucs had eight hits and no errors.
Up Next
The Buccaneers return to the field tomorrow, March 27, as they host the Eagles in another doubleheader at McQueen Park. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. MST, and Game 2 will begin at approximately 1 p.m. MST.