Phoenix, AZ- With a team ERA of 1.85 in the four game series against College of Idaho, the Arizona Christian pitching staff led the Firestorm to a split on Saturday with a 5-1 win and 5-2 loss and overall 2-2 series tie.  Junior Bobby Moretti earned the win in game one on Saturday.

The first batter of the day doubled and two batters later came home on a groundball for a quick 1-0 lead for the Coyotes (2-2).

But despite College of Idaho placing at least one runner on base in every inning except one, the ACU pitching staff did not give up another run in the game.

After being held off the scoreboard for the first four innings, the Firestorm (4-3) came to life in the fifth.  Junior Marco Castilla singled with Juniors Matt Mara and Dom Rodriguez walking to load the bases.  Junior Michael Dunnebecke bounced a single through the right side to score Castilla and Mara.

In the eighth, Senior Jake Howard doubled off the wall in the left.  Senior pinch runner Landon Teramoto scored on a pinch hit single by Senior Chance Randall.  Senior Jacob Rodriguez followed with his first home run of the season over the left field fence for a 5-1 cushion.

The ACU pitching would have made the 2-1 lead stand up.  Moretti threw five innings with five strikeouts while allowing just the one run.  Freshman Tyler Domene, Senior Chris Paulson, and Junior Anthony Pins all threw shutout relief.

In the second game, the Coyotes put up a three spot in the second inning and they added two more in the third.

Down 5-0, the Firestorm used a pair of groundouts to plate two unearned runs in their half of the third. 

However, both teams went scoreless in the final four innings of the 5-2 game.  Sophomore Laurens Oele, Junior Gary Sheffield, Freshman Trevor McGee, and Senior Joel Klinkhammer delivered the scoreless innings of game two relief.

Beginning on Thursday, the Firestorm will co-host the three day 4-Him Classic with Colorado Christian.  Arizona Christian will play the first game of the classic against Providence Christian at 2:30 pm AT on Firestorm Field.