TEMPE, ARIZ. – After picking up its 30th win of the season the night before, the OUAZ baseball team headed east to wrap up its three-game series with Park-Gilbert. While falling behind early, the Spirit used an eight-run third inning en route to a 14-8 victory over the Buccaneers.
Park-Gilbert did pull close in the seventh inning, scoring three times to get within one run of the Spirit. OUAZ responded immediately, scoring five of its own to in the top of the eighth to get its penultimate lead of the day.
The after scoring three runs on singles, Sergio Alfaro stepped up the plate in the third inning with the bases loaded. The outfielder smashed a grand slam over the left field wall, extending the Spirit lead from one to five in a single swing of the bat.
Christian Powell had an eventful eighth inning, being involved in the first three runs in a five-run inning for the Spirit. Powell slammed a pitch into the left-center gap for a two-RBI triple, then he finished off his journey on the basepaths by touching home on a wild pitch.
Logan Meyer had another great day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a walk and driving in a run. In all, five Spirit batters had multi-hit games, as Alfaro, Powell, Nicholas Lustig, and Nano Perez all had two hits each.
OUAZ had six different pitchers put up scoreless outings, helping the team get across the finish line for a sixth-straight victory. The pitching staff also picked up seven strikeouts, three coming courtesy of the winning pitcher Evan Massie.
The Spirit will have one final regular season game before the GSAC Tournament, hosting Benedictine Mesa on Tuesday evening. First pitch from Surprise Stadium is set for 6 p.m.
