ROCKLIN, Calif. - The Red Hawks' split two games against Park-Gilbert to start conference, but are unable to finish the series as the game on Sunday got rained out.
The wet weather caused Simpson to play at William Jessup's home field to avoid the rain. William Jessup's field has a turf infield and a grass outfield. However, there was enough rain prior to Sunday's game to make the outfield unplayable for the last game of the series.
On Friday, Simpson played their first two conference games with
Eric Winchester starting on the bump in game one.
Winchester had a shaky start to the game as he allowed four runs in the 1st inning. Three of the runs came from two big flies by Park. The Red Hawks came back with two homers of their own. In the bottom of the first,
Brady Meeds launched a three-run home run to left field. Meeds, knowing the ball was gone, celebrated with a bat flip as he watched the ball fly out of the park. In the 2nd inning,
Logan Gomes gave Simpson the lead with a two-run home run putting the Red Hawks up 5-4. The Buccaneers tied the game in the third with a bases-loaded walk. Winchester got out of the jam only giving up one run in the inning. Simpson took back the lead in the bottom of the inning after
Kade Kupihea scored on a wild pitch.
Titus Sato grounded out, scoring
Micah Kele and giving the Red Hawks a two-run lead. In the 5th inning, Sato and
Senituli Taufahema had a pair of singles scoring two more runs for Simpson.
Braxton King singled in the sixth to give Simpson their 10th run. The 7th and 8th inning was quiet for both teams, but Park threatened the Red Hawks' lead in the last inning. The Bucs scored a run with a one-out bases-loaded walk.
Dylan Cabral shut down the threat, striking out a batter and getting the final batter to fly out to the right fielder in foul territory. The Red Hawks won the game 10-7.
Jaydon Tomas got the call for game two of the doubleheader on Friday. Tomas was perfect through four innings but gave up the first run in the 5th inning on a sacrifice fly to right field. Simpson's offense scored all four of their runs in the 2nd inning. The Buccaneers held Simpson to five hits and did not allow any more runs the rest of the game. Park took the lead with a four-run 6th inning. They hit two extra-base hits knocking in two runs, scoring on a wild pitch and sacrifice fly to right field. In the 7th inning, the Buccaneers scored three more runs. Two runs came from costly errors by Simpson. The Bucs beat Simpson 8-4.
The Red Hawks will play Benedictine University this Friday, March 10th, to start their three-series Arizona road trip.
