Costa Mesa, CA- On Saturday, Arizona Christian earned a split with #21 Vanguard after Junior Marco Castilla doubled with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh to give ACU the 5-3 win in game two.  Despite a grand slam from Junior Dom Rodriguez in game one, the Firestorm fell 14-8.

In the opener, the Firestorm (20-17, 11-12 GSAC) struck first with a two run first inning.  Rodriguez started the game with a single back up the middle.  Castilla singled.  Following a sacrifice bunt by Senior Hector Ortiz, Junior Jonathan Nunnally, Jr. sent a single to left to score Rodriguez.  Junior Kyle Robbins then lifted a sacrifice fly to left to bring home Castilla.

The Lions (22-16, 14-7 GSAC) answered with a four run third and four run fourth to grab an 8-2 lead.

In the top of the fifth, ACU had their first four batters reach.  Senior Jake Howard walked.  Junior Matt Mara singled.  Junior Michael Dunnebecke used a single to load the bases.  Rodriguez then climbed in and clubbed his second home run of the season in grand fashion.

Unfortunately, ACU would not get any closer than 8-6.  They added a run in the top of the sixth on an RBI single by Castilla.  They were gifted another run in the top of the ninth when Sophomore Trent Troncone pinch ran and scored all the way from first on consecutive errors starting with a failed pick-off.

The series finale saw Vanguard score a run in the bottom of the first.  Arizona Christian answered with a deep drive by Robbins- his second homer of the season- that tied the score at 1-1 in the top of the second.  VUSC added two runs in the bottom of the second for the 3-1 edge.

Junior Dillon Eaves (4-3) was locked in from there as he allowed just three more hits and four total base runners in the final five innings.

Although ACU put some runners on the base paths in innings three through six, the score remained 3-1 headed into the top of the seventh.

Robbins reached on an error to begin the inning.  Senior Harris Lyons was hit by a pitch.  Senior Jose Pereyda walked to fill the pond of Firestorm.  Two batters later, Dunnebecke walked to bring in Robbins, keep the bags full, and make it a 3-2 game.  On the heels of a strikeout, Castilla represented ACU's final hope.  He promptly doubled the opposite way down the left field line to clear the bases as Dunnebecke raced all the way home from first for the 5-3 advantage.

One of the hits Eaves allowed came in the bottom of the seventh but he induced a double play to end the contest.

With the split, the Firestorm earned their 20th win of the season- the first time they have reached that mark since the 2013 season.

On Friday, the Firestorm will host Bethesda at Firestorm Field at 2:00 pm to begin a three game set.

A side note- Longtime assistant Jack Lind has decided to pursue an opportunity to coach at a baseball academy in Germany.  This was his last week coaching with the Firestorm.  Best wishes going forward Coach Lind.