The Benedictine Mesa softball team fought hard but came up short against Park Gilbert on Sunday afternoon, falling 9-4 in game one and 6-5 in game two.

Game 1: 
Park Gilbert's offense got off to a hot start, putting the Redhawks in an early hole. Gumm opened the scoring with a solo home run in the first, followed by a three-run second inning that extended the lead to 4-0. The third inning proved to be the turning point, as Park Gilbert launched three home runs, stretching their advantage to 8-0.

Benedictine got on the board in the fourth when Amaya Ruiz worked a bases-loaded walk to bring in Leiana Madrazo. The Redhawks continued to fight in the fifth, with Annaleia Jenkins driving in a run with a double. Shayera McDaniel provided a late spark with a two-run homer in the sixth, cutting the deficit to 9-4, but the early offensive burst from Park Gilbert was too much to overcome.

Game 2:
The Redhawks came out strong in game two, taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Annaleia Jenkins drove in Brandee Ayala with a single, and Arriana Chiago capitalized on a defensive miscue to bring in Gabrielle Perez.
Park Gilbert responded in the bottom of the inning, tying the game at 2-2 before adding three more runs to take a 5-2 lead. They tacked on another in the second, making it 6-2.

Benedictine battled back in the fifth when Chiago singled home Madrazo, cutting the lead to 6-3. The Redhawks made a final push in the sixth as Chiago came through again with a clutch two-run single, bringing home Madrazo and McDaniel to make it a one-run game. However, Park Gilbert's defense held strong in the final frame, denying the Redhawks the tying run.

Key Performers

• Shayera McDaniel: 1 hit, 2 runs, 1 home run, 2 RBIs
• Leiana Madrazo: 3 runs, 1 hit, 1 double
• Annaleia Jenkins: 4 hits, 1 double, 2 RBIs
• Arriana Chiago: 3 hits, 4 RBIs

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