Park University's baseball program's 2023 campaign is underway, savoring a 4-2 record in their opening series with Dallas Christian and single games against Austin College and (RV) McPherson College.

Park was able to break into double-digit scoring three times over the weekend. Park had a batting average of .391 and outscored their opponents 55 to 33. Park tended to get on the scoreboard quick this weekend with 19 runs coming in the first inning.

Park demonstrated some power numbers with nine homeruns, four of which coming from the bat of Bryce Dye and three from Zayne Morrow. With their homeruns in mind, Park had 24 extra base-hits when factoring in their 12 doubles and three triples.  

In the six games, Rodriguez led with 13 hits in 27 at-bats. Morrow led the charge with 11 RBI's. Impressively, Dye and Melendez are both over .500 after the six-game stretch, batting .750 and .556, respectively.

GAME 1 | Dallas Christian, 2-3 | Box Score

It was a slower start for Park in the first game of their Dallas Christian series, falling 3-2 to the Crusaders. Angel Lebron through four innings and even though he cruised through three scoreless innings, Dallas Christian was able to score three runs off of a two-run homerun and an RBI double. Lebron was undeniably effective though with nine strikeouts.

Kenneth Melendez is a newcomer to Park from Luquillo, Puerto Rico and he opened up the season with Park's two RBI's with a single in the 1^st and a double in the 6^th.

GAME 2 | Dallas Christian, 13-7 | Box Score

It was a high-scoring affair out of the gate in game two, as both Park and Dallas Christian scored a five-spot in the 1^st inning. Park's runs came in on four hits2, including a two-RBI double by Melendez and a two-run shot by Trent Turner for his first homerun of the season.

Park's pitchers only allowed two runs the rest of the game. Dash Goldston went four innings with five strikeouts, while John Brady and Adrian Colon-Aviles cleaned up the remaining three innings with two strikeouts apiece.

In the 4^th inning, Daniel Maldonado and Dye homered in Park's four-run inning. Maldonado led the inning off with a solo homerun and Dye had a two-run home run to put Park up 10-5.

Melendez drove in Billy Rivera and Dye on his single to right for added insurance. On game, Melendez was a perfect two-for-two with four RBI's, two runs, and two walks. Six Pirates had multi-hit games to bring their team total to 14 in game two.

GAME 3 | Dallas Christian, 15-6 | Box Score

Park made a habit of scoring early and often and it was 9-3 before some people found their seats for the game. Another five runs came across in the 1^st inning and another four runs were tacked on in the 2^nd.

Park's one-two combo of Rivera and Alex Rodriguez make it tough for any pitcher and they ambushed the Crusaders in the first inning with a single and double to start the game off. Three more RBI singles would come in during the inning by Melendez, Turner, and Davisai Pizarro.

Morrow came sat on a pitch in the 2^nd inning and sent a three-run home run out of the park to give Park an additional jolt of runs.

It was a time to see some different arms for Park in game three, a Guillermo Gelpi went three innings, striking out six. Michael Hoffman, Jesse Scholtz, and Bryce Perdieu each got some action as well. The four pitchers for Park combined for 10 strikeouts in the seven inning game, but also allowed 11 walks.

Casey Mareschal contributed a sacrifice fly in the 6^th, while Marrow yet again delivered with a two-run double.

Three more runs came in in the top of the 7^th, which was more than enough for the 15-6 victory. Park had a game-high in the series with 17 hits in game three.

GAME 4 | Dallas Christian, 6-4 | Box Score

Morrow was on the mound in game four, going 4.2 strong innings with seven strikeouts. He was scoreless through three and only allowed two hits. The Crusaders gained some traction in the 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th innings and scored their four runs. Sebastian Del Olmo had his number called to close out the game with 2.1 innings pitched with three strikeouts.

Corey Bradford got Park going with a double to left-center and came around the next batter on Rivera's single. Dye left his mark with a two-run shot to give Park a 3-0 advantage.

The hit that put the game away though was Trent Turner's triple to centerfield to score three Pirates. This ultimately was the deciding factor, as Park won 6-4.

Austin, 12-1 | Box Score

Park ventured to Sherman, Texas for a single game against the 'Roos of Austin College. The NCAA Division III opponent had their hands full with the Park lineup though, as Park had 20 hits to score 12 runs. In all, phases this looked to be Park's most complete game of the weekend.  

The Pirates scored in each of the first four innings. Dye had his third homerun to start the game off with a bang, bringing in himself and Rodriguez.

A balk scored the third run for Park and Mareschal was able to score Turner off of a single to left field.

Hunter Edwards threw five strong innings on the hill and struck out six batters, while only allowing one earned run. His supporting cast of Logan Weaver, Seth Brecheen, and Cameron Knight shut the door when their numbers were called upon and held the 'Roos scoreless. Weaver and Brecheen each struck out two batters, and Knight grabbed one more strikeout to bring the total to 11 for the day.
The next time Dye came to the plate, he sent over his fourth homerun of the weekend. Once again, he hit a two-run blast to bring Rodriguez in.

Maldonado doubled down the line to bring in a run in the next inning. He eventually came around by Rivera's single up the middle to push Park to an 8-0 lead.

More runs came across in the fourth, as Marrow hit a two-run homerun and Rivera had a sacrifice fly. The Park lead was now 11-1 which set up the game's final run by Turner's RBI double.

(RV) McPherson, 8-12 | Box Score

With an early test against McPherson, the Pirates came out strong in the 1^st inning with four runs. It began with Ricardo Hernandez' single up the middle to put Park up 1-0.

Marrow was due up after Hernandez and he continued to swing a hot bat with his third homerun of the weekend to put Park up 4-0.

Adam Stilts was able to hold off McPherson through two innings, but four runs came across in the third.

The Pirates got one back in the top of the 4^th by a Rodriguez RBI single, but another four-run rally came in by the Bulldogs in the next half inning.

After three errors in the field by Park a sac fly, a double, and another single allowed four runs to come in for the Bulldogs. Stilts had five earned runs and had zero walks. Raul Garcia allowed two earned runs the following inning, but was effective with four strikeouts in 3.1 innings of work.

At this point, the Bulldogs led 11-5 and it would not be until the 8^th inning that either team would score again. In the top of the 8^th, three runs scored on an RBI single by Mareschal and a two-RBI single by Yadiel Santana.

Maldonado led in the hit column with three for the game, while four other Pirates contributed multi-hit games for a total of 15.

In the end though, the Pirates fell to the Bulldogs, 12-8.