Phoenix, AZ- After a nail biting first game where ACU held on for a 1-0 win, the Firestorm rallied for a 6-5 walk-off win in the second game against William Jessup on Saturday.  The two ACU wins and the two losses by San Diego Christian propelled Arizona Christian into a two game lead in the GSAC race for first.  Freshman Jenna Castilleja drove home the walk-off game winner.

If you like pitching than game one was right up your alley as Senior Jackie Aguilar and WJU's Shelbi Graifman engaged in a classic pitcher's duel.

The Firestorm (26-10-1, 10-4 GSAC) collected their only two hits of the opener in the first and third innings.  Aguilar herself doubled in the third but was left stranded at third.

In the fifth, ACU showed their patience as Graifman struggled with her control.  Without the benefit of a hit, three walks and a wild pitch scored the only run of the game.  Junior Destinee Spencer accounted for the run.

On the other hand, Aguilar scattered four hits including two in the first as she only let two runners reach as far as second base.  She did not allow a single walk and struck out two as she improved to 12-4 on the year with her complete game effort.

The Warriors (11-19, 4-8 GSAC) quickly eliminated thoughts of being shut out again as the third and fourth batters of the second game produced back-to-back doubles to quickly take a 1-0 lead.  In the third, WJU added three more runs for a 4-0 edge.

However, ACU answered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the third.  Spencer, Junior Sianna Gomez, and Senior Alyssa Vanderdrink produced three straight singles to open the half inning.  Spencer and Gomez scored on a double by Junior Kylie Christman.  Junior Meaghen Nelson scored Vanderdrink with a single to center to create a 4-3 score.

Freshmen Anely Marcilla started the fourth with a double down the left field line and came in to score on a sacrifice fly by Gomez to tie the game at 4-4.

A single, sacrifice, and single combo was capped by an RBI single from Castilleja to give the Firestorm their first lead of game two at 5-4.  Castilleja was just getting warmed up for the dramatic finish.

William Jessup countered with three straight singles in the sixth to tie the score at 5-5.

After Freshman Ashlynn Preciado worked out of a bases loaded one out jam in the top of the seventh, Arizona Christian had an opportunity to end the game in regulation.

Christman singled, Nelson reached on a fielder's choice with everyone safe, and one batter later Castilleja sent a single into right to plate Christman to give ACU the walk-off win.

Preciado earned the win and moved up to a record of 4-2.

Head Coach Trisha Thurston commented, "We did not have our strongest offensive production today, but we found ways to manufacture runs and our defense played solid all day. It was great to see different people step up in big ways today. Our best ball is still to come!"

The Firestorm and Warriors will have little time to miss each other as the next games for both teams will be the makeup games from the rained out doubleheader in March.  ACU and WJU will square off at the neutral site of the Santee Sports Complex on Thursday at 12:00 pm.