Phoenix, AZ- Facing each other for the first time ever, Arizona Christian and Simpson played a defense optional approach as they combined for 35 runs and 51 hits in the high scoring split.  Sophomore Elsy Guzman was 6-9 with four RBI while Junior Hilaria Stewart homered twice.

Game Info

• Game one score: Arizona Christian - 9, Simpson - 7
• Game two score: Simpson - 11, Arizona Christian - 8
• Records: Arizona Christian – 21-10, Simpson – 16-10
• NAIA Top 25 ranking: Arizona Christian – not ranked, Simpson – receiving votes
• Location: Rose Mofford Sports Complex, Phoenix, AZ

ACU Game One Stats

• Jamilia Cosay- 2-4, 3 RBI
• Hilaria Stewart- 1-4, HR, 2 RBI, save
• Payton Carli- 2-3, 2 runs
• Adri Garcia- Pinch hit 2 RBI single
• Elsy Guzman- 1-4, RBI
• Emerald Grijalva- win

Inside Game One

• RBI single from Guzman in the first gave ACU a 1-0 lead
• After Simpson took a 2-1 lead, the Firestorm exploded for a seven run second inning
• Garcia, Guzman, Cosay, and Stewart produced four consecutive RBI hits capped by Stewart's first home run of the season.
• Grijalva threw five innings, Tatumn Porras threw 1.2 innings, Stewart used one pitch to induce a ground ball for the save
• Teams combined for 242 pitches, seven errors, and 17 runners left on base in the opener

ACU Game Two Stats

• Elsy Guzman- 5-5, 2B, 3 RBI
• Hilaria Stewart- 1-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 runs
• Tatumn Porras- 1-5, 2 RBI
• Taylor Babbitt- 3-5, RBI

Inside Game Two

• The Redhawks scored the first six runs aided by an ACU error that opened the door for four runs to score in the second
• ACU cashed in a five spot in fourth after sending 11 batters to the plate
• Simpson scored four in the fifth followed by three from ACU in the bottom of the fifth (Guzman doubled and Stewart homered in the inning)
• Teams combined for 326 pitches, five errors, and 24 runners left on base in the night cap

Thoughts from Coach Welsh

"What a slugfest!  I was proud of how well we hit in game one and that we never gave up in game two.  Elsy had a great day and Hilaria crushed two home runs."

"We were a few pitches away from sweeping.  Tough to lose when you put up that many runs, but our pitchers and defense need to improve a little bit in order to win ballgames like game two."

Up Next

On Friday, the Firestorm will host Menlo for a double header plus some as the teams need to finish a suspended game currently in the fifth and then play two games.  The Firestorm and the Oaks will face off at the Paseo Sports Complex with first pitch of the suspended game coming at 11:00 am.