Box Score Phoenix, AZ- Playing the opening game of the Alpine Fresh 4-Him Classic, Arizona Christian pounded out five runs in the first inning as they held off Providence Christian 7-5 on Thursday afternoon. Senior Hector Ortiz and Junior Matt Mara both homered as Junior Anthony Pins earned the win in relief.
After using a double play to create 1-2-3 top of the first, the Firestorm (5-3) saw eight of their first nine batters reach base safely in the bottom of the first. Junior Dom Rodriguez walked and Junior Michael Dunnebecke singled before Ortiz deposited his first home run of the season over the left field fence. Junior Marco Castilla doubled down the right field line followed by an RBI single from Senior Jake Howard. Senior Jose Pereyda was hit by a pitch. Junior Jonathan Nunnally, Jr. sent an RBI single through the left side to plate Howard and give ACU their 5-0 cushion.
In the third, Howard doubled inside the left field line and raced home on a single from Nunnally to score what turned out to be the eventual game winning run.
Sophomore Baylor Giannini pitched around some trouble in the first three innings though still had a shutout heading into the top of the fourth. But the first batter of the inning for the Sea Beggars (0-3) lined a hit back up the middle off the foot/ankle of Giannini. Giannini never looked comfortable against the final three batters he faced as evident by the two run home run, single, and walk he allowed to that trio of batters.
Pins threw two innings of scoreless relief to put himself in line for the win which was ultimately credited to him.
Freshman Trevor McGee pitched a three up three down top of the sixth inning.
Mara put a charged into the second pitch he saw in the bottom of the sixth inning and sent his first home run on the year out to left. PCC responded with a three run seventh but would not get any closer than the final 7-5 score.
The Firestorm will continue play in the 4-Him Classic with a nice and early 8:30 am start on Friday against Adams State at Firestorm Field.
