Park University's baseball program was at home on Sunday and Monday, March 2 and 3 against Graceland University in the opening series of Heart of America Athletic Conference play. Graceland came through late to steal two wins against Park, but the Pirates responded emphatically on day two to split the series, 5-7, 8-12, 20-2, 4-1.

Both these teams split in the 2024 series in Lamoni, Iowa and in the same order of events too, two wins for the Yellowjackets on day one and two wins for Park to close out the series.
The Pirates move to 6-5 on the season and 2-2 in the Heart, of course, Graceland now has the same conference record as Park and are up to 8-9 in 2025.

L, 5-7 | Box Score
Raul Garcia took the mound in game one and through four innings was working a shutout. Offensively, the Pirates did not get on the board until the second time through the order in the bottom of the fourth. But they were able to put up a three-spot in the inning, as Billy Rivera singled to start things off, Gilberto Torres walked, and after both runners advanced on a fly out, Zayne Morrow and Jake Lufft brought in the three runs on hits through the right side and a double down the left field line.

It was an impressive answer by the Yellowjackets in the fifth inning though, all with two outs. Five consecutive hits, including two doubles gave the lead to Graceland, ending Garcia's outing at 4.2 innings and four strikeouts, zero walks.

A wild pitch allowed Park to tie it in the fifth and then a solo home run by Lufft for his third RBI of the game took back the lead for Park, 5-4.

Sebastian Del Olmo threw a scoreless inning in the sixth and then handed the ball off to James Hays for the seventh inning. Two one-out walks were issued to the Yellowjackets and a double cleared the bases for the go-ahead run. One more run came on a ground out to make it 7-5 and the score would hold in the bottom of the seventh for Graceland.
L, 8-12 | Box Score

The offense showed up early for both sides, as Graceland put up six runs in the first inning against Jake Beckman on four hits and two errors. The Pirates played tough with two outs and Lufft again hit a double down the leftfield line to score two runs. The Pirates then benefited on a balk and wild pitch to score another pair of runs, cutting the deficit to 6-4.

An unearned run scored for the Yellowjackets in the top of the second, but again another Pirate answer was ready as Rivera singled to bring in Alex Rodriguez.

Beckman threw a scoreless third inning, ending his day at three innings pitched on five strikeouts with only one run earned.

A bases loaded walk put Park within one run in the bottom of the third and then Ricardo Hernandez doubled down the leftfield line to give Park an 8-7 lead.

Graceland would come on strong in the next three innings with five runs though and shutout Park the rest of the way for a 12-8 win.

Rivera was the only Pirate with three hits in the game, while two-RBI doubles by Hernandez and Lufft brought the offense.

Six Park pitchers were used in the game and seven walks were issued among them. The Yellowjackets had a high walk number as well, matching Park with seven.

W, 20-2 | Box Score
There was no resemblance of the previous two games in game three, as Park scored 20 runs in the first four innings of the game.

Graceland got on the board with an unearned run in the top of the first, but Bryan Aguirre settled in for his first win of the season on five innings pitched with five strikeouts.

Lufft got his sixth RBI through three games of the series to tie the game at 1-1. Hernandez kept it simple with a line drive to left field to score another run, and an error by the leftfielder set up Evan Johnson for a two-RBI single to right field to give Park a 4-1 lead.

Another four runs poured in the next inning, starting with a score on a wild pitch, followed by a base-clearing double by Morrow to break the game open, 8-1.

A grand slam in the third inning by Hernandez and a three run shot by Torres put this game way out of reach at 16-1. To add to the run count was Hernandez who capped off his three-of-four, six RBI day with a solo shot after Torres. With minimal trouble from the Yellowjackets the rest of the way, Mason Danner and Dash Goldston threw two combined shutout innings to change the trajectory of the series, 20-2.

W, 4-1 | Box Score
It was a pitching duel to finish out the series, as both teams were held under 10 hits for the game. Lufft who had been so effective at the plate then showed off the wing, going a complete game on the mound.

Luft helped his cause in the bottom of the first inning with his seventh RBI in four games with a single to centerfield to score Rodriguez. Morrow followed suit with an RBI single to centerfield and Park quickly went up 2-0.

The Yellowjackets would be held down until the fourth inning, when they cut the lead in half 2-0 on a single to right-center.

Sacrifice flies by Yadiel Santana in the fourth and by Morrow in the fifth gave enough insurance for a dialed in Lufft on the mound. Lufft pitched to contact and was effective with all his pitches for a one-run, complete game on four strikeouts and a pitching coach's dream, zero walks.

Another change came to the upcoming series with Park and Mount Mercy University and this series will commence on Sunday and Monday from Comfort Field with doubleheaders starting at noon each day. This will be a rematch of last year's Heart Conference Tournament Championship. WATCH