Poway, CA- ACU Softball opened their final regular season road trip with a split against Saint Katherine at the Poway Sports Complex on Thursday.  The Firestorm won the first game 12-4 but lost the second game 3-2.  Seniors Sianna Gomez (5-8) and Meaghen Nelson (3-6) were a home run shy of the cycle on the day.

Gomez opened the afternoon on the right note as she doubled to begin the day.  An error opened the door for a three run (all unearned) inning.  Sophomore Taylor Babbitt collected an RBI single.

The Eagles (9-27) answered with an unearned run in the bottom of the inning.

When the top of the third rolled around, the Firestorm (26-23) put up a six spot on the scoreboard.  Junior Ashlynn Preciado homered down the left field line (her team leading fifth of the season) to start the half inning.  Nelson doubled.  Sophomore Anely Marcilla singled.  Two outs later, Senior Destinee Spencer singled in a run.  Sophomore Jenna Castilleja walked.  Gomez followed with a two RBI single.  Junior Cheyann Michael then doubled home a run to cap the scoring.

SKC scored three on a homer in the third to make it a 9-4 game.

Nelson started the fourth with a triple inside the right field line.  Marcilla drove Nelson home.  A double play was softened by the fourth long ball of the year from Junior Chelsea Havill.

In the fifth, Gomez capped the scoring when she tripled and scored on a groundout by Michael.

Spencer (6-3) started the game and went the required four innings for the win.

Game two was a case of the Firestorm wishing they could have moved some first game runs to the second game.

ACU did open the game with a run in the first after Gomez singled and swiped second and then scored an unearned run.

SKC used three singles to tie the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the first.  They added two unearned runs in the second for a 3-1 edge.

The Firestorm had runners on but could not score another run until Michael tripled to center in the sixth and Freshman Paige Church brought her home on a sacrifice fly.  ACU left runners at second and third in the inning and would not get any closer than 3-2.

Marcilla (9-4) surrendered just one earned run but was still tagged with the loss.

On Friday, the Firestorm meet up with Hope International to start four games of what essentially are win or miss the playoffs games to end the regular season.  First pitch against the Royals will come at Fullerton College at 12:00 pm.