Phoenix, AZ- On Saturday, Arizona Christian suffered their first loss of the season but rebounded with a walk-off win as they split with Benedictine- Mesa 5-2 and 4-3.  The Firestorm were led by a pair of freshmen as Paige Church went 3-4 with a double and Hilaria Stewart threw a complete game for the win.

In game one, the Firestorm (3-1) struck first when Senior Sianna Gomez drove home Sophomore Anely Marcilla in the second inning.

The Redhawks (1-1) countered with a run in the third and fourth to grab a 2-1 lead.

Junior Bridget Kruck sent a ball into the left center gap and was credited with a double but advanced to third after an interference call in the fourth.  Sophomore Jenna Castilleja sent a sacrifice fly to left to plate Kruck and create a 2-2 tie.

However, Benedictine-Mesa used a three run fifth to take control of the opener.

Stewart was given the start in the second game- her first collegiate start from the circle.  In the first inning nerves may have played a factor for Stewart as she hit two batters and one came into score.

But when ACU answered with a run in the bottom of the first- three straight hits including a double by Church and a bases loaded walk- Stewart appeared to settle down and only allow two unearned runs the rest of the way.

Two runs in the fourth briefly gave Arizona Christian a 3-2 edge before the final unearned run for Benedictine tie the game in the sixth.

Stewart stranded a runner in scoring position in the top of the seventh to set up the dramatic finish.

Leading off the inning, Church bounced a single through the right side to become the winning run on the base paths.  Following two pop-up outs, Sophomore Ashlynn Preciado- who was called on as a pinch hitter- doubled just over the third base bag inside the left field line and Church beat the throw to the plate for the walk-off win.

Claiming the win in first her collegiate start, Stewart struck out four in her seven innings of work.

Next week, the Firestorm will make their first trip to Southern California as they meet up with La Sierra in Riverside on Thursday.  They are scheduled to play in a classic hosted by Biola on Friday but predicted rain may impact the schedule for all teams.