CHANDLER, AZ. – The University of Saint Mary softball team split with Park University – Gilbert on Sunday on their first day in Arizona. The Spires fell 11-4 in game one as they struggled offensively, but that would quickly change as they handled the Buccaneers in game two, with a 15-6 score.

The Spires are now 2-14 overall.

GAME 1
Park led 6-0 the majority of the game. In the top of the fifth inning, Victoria Gutierrez got on base with a single through the hole at shortstop, and Carlyee Arndt followed with a double to put the Spires in scoring position. Allyson Dias reached on a walk to load the bases. Two batters later, Hazel Faz smashed one over the left field fence for a grand slam to make it a 6-4 ball game. The Buccaneers scored five more runs and held the Spires scoreless the rest of the game.

GAME 2
Saint Mary trailed 6-1 after two innings, and just when it seemed like it would be a repeat of game one, the Spires bats got hot and they scored 14 unanswered runs to pull away with the victory. Saint Mary scored four runs in the third inning, and then two in the fourth to tie it up 6-6. A huge eight run inning in the sixth put the Spires on top and they never looked back.

INSIDE THE STATS
-The Spires had 23 hits on the day.
-Hailey Reece went 5-for-8 at the plate on the day.
-Gutierrez, Faz and Shelby Mohler led the team with 4 RBI's.

UP NEXT
The Spires return to action tomorrow against Benedictine University at Mesa and Park University (Mo.) at the Arizona Tournament. The game against BU-Mesa is set to begin at 12 p.m. followed by a contest with the Pirates at 2:30 p.m.