Gilbert, Ariz. — The Spirit earned a doubleheader split against the Park Gilbert Buccaneers on Friday afternoon at AZ Athletic Grounds, taking game one 7-5 before falling 2-4 in the finale.

Game 1 — OUAZ 7, Park Gilbert (AZ) 5

In the opener, OUAZ had to respond early after Park-Gilbert jumped ahead with a three-run first inning, highlighted by a home run that quickly put the Spirit in a 0-3 hole. OUAZ chipped away in the fourth when Savannah Sutton drove in a run with a double to cut the deficit to two.

The breakthrough came in the fifth inning, where the Spirit offense erupted for five runs. After a leadoff single and an error put runners in scoring position, Elysa Moreno delivered an RBI single to get things rolling. Brianna Humphries followed with a run-scoring double, and Ava Seguin broke the game open with a two-RBI triple to give OUAZ its first lead of the game. Sutton added another RBI knock to cap the inning and push the advantage to 6-3.

Park Gilbert answered with solo home runs in the bottom half to tighten the score to 5-6, but OUAZ added an insurance run in the seventh. Humphries reached and aggressively advanced on a defensive miscue, eventually coming around to score and extend the lead to two.

In the circle, Alexis Ayersman earned the win, going five innings, while Stephanie Cortazar shut the door in the seventh to secure the save.

Game 2 — OUAZ 2, Park Gilbert (AZ) 4

Game two saw OUAZ strike first once again. Ava Seguin drove in the opening run with an RBI double in the first inning, and Kinzy Creighton added to the lead in the third with a solo home run to make it 2-0.

Park Gilbert began to shift momentum in the fourth, manufacturing a run on a fielder's choice to cut the lead in half. The Buccaneers then took control in the sixth inning, stringing together multiple hits, including a solo home run and two RBI singles, to plate three runs and move in front 2-4.

OUAZ threatened late but was unable to generate a rally in the seventh, leaving the tying run stranded and sealing the split.

Brianna Humphries led the offense in game two with three hits, while Seguin added a hit and RBI.

Up Next

The Spirit will travel to Irvine, California, for the GSAC Tournament. Their opening game is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28, with their opponent still to be determined. The tournament follows a double-elimination format, and the champion will earn an automatic bid to the NAIA Tournament.