The Benedictine Mesa baseball team split their doubleheader on Sunday, dropping the first game 19-5 before bouncing back in dominant fashion to win game two 20-12, securing the series victory.

Game 1: Benedictine Mesa fell behind early and was unable to recover as Park-Gilbert took control from the start. The Buccaneers put up five runs in the first inning, capitalizing on a series of timely hits and an RBI walk. The Redhawks got on the board in the second inning when Tyler Jackson advanced to third on an error, allowing Stephan Goldsberry to score.

After a quiet stretch, Park-Gilbert pulled away in the sixth, using a three-run double and an RBI single to extend their lead to 11-1. Benedictine showed some fight in the bottom of the seventh, scoring four runs, including a two-RBI single from Carlos Parra and a sacrifice fly from AJ Fernandez, cutting the deficit to 15-5. However, Park-Gilbert tacked on four more runs in the final two innings to put the game out of reach, handing Benedictine a tough 19-5 loss.

Game 2: The Redhawks responded in determined fashion in game two, overcoming an early deficit to claim a commanding 20-12 victory.
Park-Gilbert struck first with a three-run home run in the opening inning, but Benedictine answered as Tyler Jackson's RBI double put them on the board. The Buccaneers extended their lead to 9-1 in the second, but the Redhawks refused to back down.

Benedictine's comeback began in the fourth inning, with Jude Sullivan delivering a two-run double and the Redhawks capitalizing on an error to close the gap to 9-6. The momentum carried into the fifth as Jack Moore and Cooper Jeffries knocked in runs to bring the Redhawks within one at 9-8.

After Park-Gilbert added a run in the sixth, Benedictine took over with a massive 12-run inning. AJ Fernandez launched a three-run homer to give the Redhawks their first lead, followed by a grand slam from Alec Larson that extended the advantage. Jude Sullivan added a two-run homer, while Sam Ruchala and Ethan Graham tacked on key RBI hits to push the lead to 20-10.

Park-Gilbert managed two more runs in the seventh, but Benedictine's explosive offense proved insurmountable as they secured the statement win.

Key Performers:

• Jude Sullivan: 2 runs, 4 hits, 4 RBIs, 2 doubles, 1 home run
• AJ Fernandez: 5 hits, 2 runs, 5 RBIs, 1 double, 1 home run
• Alec Larson: 2 runs, 1 hit, 1 grand slam, 4 RBIs
• Carlos Parra: 4 runs, 4 hits, 3 RBIs, 1 double

Looking Ahead: The Redhawks return to action on Friday, March 28, as they take on Arizona Christian at home.