Box Score PHOENIX, AZ --- The Arizona Christian University Firestorm baseball team defeated the Westmont Warriors by a final of 4-3 in a final ten innings on Friday in game one of a three game set at the Firestorm Baseball field on the campus of Arizona Christian University.
With the victory, the Firestorm improve to 1-0 on the season and 1-0 in GSAC play. With the loss, the Westmont Warriors; who are receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 Baseball Poll fall to 3-1 overall and 0-1 in GSAC play.
It was a pitcher's duel throughout the first seven innings on Friday afternoon. Firestorm starter Tommy Lay, went eight strong shutout innings; while allowing just four hits, one walk and he struckout 12 Warriors.
Westmont starter Russell Harmening tossed a strong 7.2 innings, while allowing a run on four hits with six strikeouts. In the end, neither starter would record a decision in the game.
The scoring started in the bottom of the eighth inning, when Firestorm first baseman Tate Erickson singled in Matthew Mara to make it 1-0 ACU.
In the top of the ninth inning, Westmont responded with a run of their own to tie the game at one when Blake Matthas hit a sac-fly to deep centerfield; scoring Alex Bush from third to tie the game at one. The Firestorm were unable to respond in the bottom of the ninth inning, forcing extra innings.
Westmont saw their bats come alive in the top of the 10th inning, when the scored two runs on a double and a sac-fly to take a 3-1 lead. The Firestorm wouldn't surrender, as they struck for three runs in the bottom of the 10th inning to earn a season opening 4-3 walk-off victory. Zach Vogel scored the first run on a passed ball from third base to cut the deficit to 3-2. On that passed ball, AJ Arroyo moved up to third base and would score a few pitches later on a Jake Wakamatsu RBI single to tie the game at three. Anthony Balderama then came through with the game winning fielder's choice; where the Warriors would get Tanner Stokey out at second, but on the throw to first to retire Balderama the ball went in the dirt allowing Balderama to reach safely and allowing Chris Burks to score the winning run.
No Firestorm player had multiple hits in the game, as ACU managed just seven hits in Friday's pitcher's duel. Joshua Garcia (1-0) earned the victory in his two-thirds of an inning pitched. He allowed just one hit. Take the loss for the Warriors was Michael Rishwain (1-1), he tossed two-thirds of an inning and allowed three runs on three hits while walking two and striking out one.
The Firestorm will conclude their three game series with the Westmont Warriors tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon with a doubleheader beginning at 11am. Game two will follow at approximately 1pm.
