The Benedictine University Mesa baseball team earned a split in a two-game set against Park-Gilbert on Saturday, powering past the Buccaneers in Game One before coming up short in Game Two despite multiple late scoring chances.

Game One: Benedictine 9, Park-Gilbert 3
Benedictine Mesa used a pair of big innings and steady pitching to secure a 9–3 win in the opener.

The Redhawks struck first pressure early in the top of the first, loading the bases with two hits, but were unable to push a run across. Park-Gilbert capitalized in the bottom half, scoring three runs with two outs aided by a wild pitch and timely singles to grab an early 3–0 lead.

Benedictine responded immediately in the second inning. After Javier Rochin reached and advanced on an error, Cooper Jeffries delivered an RBI single, and Oliver Davies followed with a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to one. Strong defense and pitching kept Park-Gilbert off the board over the next several frames, highlighted by scoreless innings in the second through fourth.

The Redhawks broke through again in the fifth. Jack Moore worked a leadoff walk and later scored as Christian Ramos reached on an error, driving in two runs to give Benedictine its first lead of the game at 4–3.

The decisive moment came in the eighth inning. Benedictine erupted for five runs, taking advantage of aggressive baserunning and Park-Gilbert miscues. Tyler Jackson doubled to spark the rally, and the Redhawks scored on a fielder's choice, a steal of home, run-scoring singles by AJ Fernandez and Jonas Dyas, and two wild pitches to blow the game open.

Benedictine's bullpen closed the door, holding Park-Gilbert scoreless over the final eight innings to secure the win.

Game Two: Park-Gilbert 7, Benedictine 4
The Redhawks looked to carry momentum into Game Two and struck early in the second inning. After Jonas Dyas reached and moved into scoring position, Oliver Davies lined an RBI single to left to give Benedictine a 1–0 lead.

Park-Gilbert answered quickly, tying the game in the bottom of the second and then taking control in the third inning. Benedictine ran into trouble with traffic on the bases, and Park-Gilbert capitalized, scoring five runs in the frame—three of them unearned—to build a 7–1 advantage.

Benedictine battled back. In the sixth inning, the Redhawks mounted their best rally of the game. Walks and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases before Jack Moore delivered a clutch two-run single to center. A wild pitch allowed another run to score, trimming the deficit to 7–4 and bringing Benedictine firmly back into contention.

The pitching staff settled in after the third inning, keeping Park-Gilbert off the scoreboard the rest of the way and allowing the offense a chance to rally. Benedictine put runners on in multiple innings, including the seventh, but was unable to deliver the tying hit.