GLENDALE, Ariz. - After losing game one of Friday's GSAC-opening series to The Master's University (15-9; 1-1 GSAC), 14-4, the ACU baseball team (24-12; 1-1 GSAC) walked-off game two with an 11-10, eight-inning win at Apollo High School.

Series/Game Notes:

ACU moves to 13-31 all-time against The Master's with the split.

Game One:

The Firestorm offense was stymied for much of the contest, scoring just four runs on nine hits.  Starting pitcher Sergio Heguertty took the loss and went 5-1/3 innings allowing four runs on five hits and walked three.

ACU's relievers were battered and combined to allow 10 runs on 13 hits with the exception of righty Eli Elliot who tossed 1-1/3 innings of scoreless baseball while striking out two.

Offensively, five players combined for the nine team hits including two-hit games from Ramon Miranda, Justen Burkey, Robby Campillo, and Damien McElroy.  Campillo doubled and knocked in a pair, and Burkey and Miranda each finished with one RBI, and Miranda and Deshon Thomas each scored two runs.

Game Two:

ACU held a 9-3 lead entering the sixth inning with things looking like it would cruise to a win, but the Mustang bats came to life in the top half of the sixth, scoring five runs on two hits, including a grand slam to bring TMU within one run, 9-8.

The Firestorm added an insurance run in the bottom half of the sixth and brought in closer Anthony Defrancesco to slam the door on the Mustangs in the seventh.  He allowed a lead off double before punching out the next two batters.  But with two away and a runner on third due to a wild pitch, Defrancesco blew his save opportunity and allowed a two-out home run that went sailing over the left-field fence to tie things up, 10-10.

Neither team would score in their respective next half innings, but the Firestorm offense led off the bottom of the eighth with a walk, and after a sacrifice bunt moved that leadoff man to second, an intentional walk put men on first and second with one away.

Rhett Holmes pinch hit in the designated hitter's spot and had the perfect opportunity to end things with runners now on second and third after a wild pitch.  He took advantage of the opportunity by driving a ball on the ground to the shortstop who fielded and threw home, but the wheels of D'Marcus Guillory came in handy as he scored easily from third to give the Firestorm the walk-off win.

Defrancesco earned the win (3-0) after tossing two innings of relief.  Trevor McGee was hit hard in his start, allowing eight runs on eight hits while walking four and striking out six across 5-2/3 innings.

Manny Villa led the way offensively with thee hits and also scored twice.  Burkey, McElroy, Brent Smith, and Randen Garrison each had two-hit performances, with Garrison hitting two triples while knocking in four.  Burkey finished with two RBI, and Miranda went 1-for-1 with three walks, an RBI, and a run scored.

Thoughts from Coach: 

"The loss in game one was rough despite having good starting pitching.  We gave up too many free passes and needed to find a way to bounce back.  I was proud of the way our guys stuck with it by battling through some adverse moments to create momentum to earn the win in game two."

Up Next:

Coached by Joe McDonald, the Firestorm continue GSAC play Sat., March 13 by hosting The Master's for a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. Arizona Time at Apollo High School in Glendale, Ariz.