Gilbert, Ariz. -The Golden Eagles traveled to Park University-Gilbert (8-8) for a four-game series Thursday and Friday, where they honored Armando Quezada, late father of senior captain, Kaylee Quazada with a special "Strike Out Cancer" game; Both teams wore pink, with the Golden Eagles adding green ribbons for liver cancer awareness.
The split results reflect the closeness of the series. The Buccaneers outscored the Golden Eagles 14-12 in the four games, and edged them in total hits, 31-29. Of those 31 hits, Park had five doubles while La Sierra had seven. Both teams had five stolen bases. -Cal Pac Website
Thursday, April 22nd, Game 1
The Golden Eagles made the most of their eight hits as they topped the Buccaneers in the opener. La Sierra produced half its game total hits in the four-run 3rd inning. The rally started with four straight singles by Sam Montero, Jescenda Lopez, Kindy Favata and Adriana Reyes and a Park error created all the runs. Favata, Reyes, and Montero each had two hits for La Sierra. -Cal Pac Website
Game 2
Jessica Mendoza earned the win for the Buccaneers with a complete game shutout, giving up just five hits and no walks. The Golden Eagles move to 3-7 in conference and 3-11 overall.
Friday, April 23rd, Game 1
For the second straight day, the Golden Eagles were able to take the opener of the doubleheader with the Buccaneers.
Both teams were strong in the circle, but the Golden Eagles came out on top, defeating the Buccaneers, 3-1. The Golden Eagles pitchers only allowed seven hits. Keana Houchin started the game, surrendering one run on six hits, over four and two-thirds innings. Elizabeth Pena shut out the Bucs, only allowing one hit over two and a third innings, striking out one and walking none.
La Sierra plated two runners in the 1st, one on a ground out and the other on Sam Montero's double, and added an insurance run in the 5th, when Kirstin Mullen doubled. - Cal Pac Website
Game 2
It was a heartbreaker for the Golden Eagles as they lost the lead late in the game, in a 2-1 defeat to the Buccaneers in game two of Friday's doubleheader. The game was tied 1-1, with Park-Gilbert at the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning, when Michele Dinicola doubled on a 1-1 count, scoring one run.
The pitching was strong on both sides. Park-Gilbert struck out three, while the Golden Eagles sat down two. Kirsten Hernandez started the game for the Golden Eagles, allowing six hits and two runs over six innings, striking out two.
The Golden Eagles fired up the offense in the first inning, when Kirstin Mullen grounded out, which was still good enough for an RBI, however, the Bucs evened things up at one in the bottom of the first inning when Dinicola singled on a 1-1 count, earning an RBI.
Adriana Reyes, Kaylee Quezada, and Kindy Favata all managed multiple hits for Golden Eagles. Reyes led the Golden Eagles with three hits in four at bats. The Golden Eagles didn't commit a single error in the field.
Next up, the Golden Eagles travel to Simpson University in Redding, Calif. for the Cal Pac Conference Championship Tournament.
