Buccaneers Swashbuckle Warriors

The Nelson Lady Warriors softball team (17-23) dropped both ends of a doubleheader on the road against the Park University Buccaneers, falling 9-1 in six innings (run-rule) in Game 1 and 11-6 in Game 2.

Game 1: Park 9, Nelson 1 (6 innings – run-rule)
After the Buccaneers jumped out to a 2-0 lead through two innings, Nelson broke the shutout in the top of the third when Stephany Aguirre launched a towering solo home run to right field on a 2-2 fastball. As luck would have it, that would be the only run the Warriors could muster, as they were held to just three hits for the entire game (Estevannie Rojas and Maritza Rodriguez recorded the other two).

Park responded aggressively, in the bottom of the third, scoring five runs on two home runs and an RBI double, then added two more in the sixth to push the lead to 9-1. After their final two runs, the run-rule was invoked before the end of the sixth inning.

Game 2: Park 11, Nelson 6
Undeterred from the opening game, the Warriors came out swinging in Game 2 and built a strong 5-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. With the bases loaded, the women began a merry-go-round that felt as if it might continue forever, when Destiny Medina walked in Emily Quigg, Anais Valencia singled in Addy Marquez, Briyanei Celaya drove in Nadiyah Bacahui on a fielder's choice, Estevannie Rojas walked in a run, and Maritza Rodriguez added an RBI sacrifice fly to score Valencia.

Park scratched across a couple of runs in the bottom of the third, but Nelson answered in the fifth when Addy Marquez singled to right to drive in Rodriguez, restoring a four-run lead at 6-2.

Unfortunately, the Buccaneers exploded late. They cut into the lead to just one-run with back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the fifth, then erupted for six runs on six hits and an error in the sixth to take an 11-6 lead. Nelson had one last chance in the top of the seventh, but could only strand Rodriguez after she led off with a single.

See the Nelson Warriors' softball page for their upcoming schedule.

Do not forget to follow Nelson Athletics on X at @NelsonWarriors and Instagram at @nelsonwarriors.athletics.