LANCASTER, Calif. - The ACU baseball team (28-18) suffered a walk-off loss to the University of Antelope Valley (8-3), 11-10 in a non-conference game played Wednesday afternoon at The Hangar. 

Series/Game Notes:

The two teams have not met many times before, but the loss broke a 1-1 all-time series tie, with Antelope Valley now leading, 2-1.

The Game:

Both offenses were clicking on all cylinders as the two teams combined to total 28 hits and 21 runs in the contest. 

ACU got on the board in the first with two runs and added four runs in the second inning.  The game was tied 6-6 after two full innings, but Antelope Valley would take a lead in the fourth inning that would hold all the way until the eighth, when the Firestorm would charge back to tie things up, 10-10.

Despite the late comeback, ACU would find itself in a bases-loaded situation in the bottom half of the ninth, and with two outs recorded, the Pioneers would walk off on an infield single to earn the 11-10 victory.

Starting pitcher Brett Aker went four innings and allowed nine runs (five earned) on 10 hits while walking two and punching out three in a no decision.  Reliever Tanner Durazo surrendered one run on three hits in 2-1/3 innings and struck out a trio of Pioneers, Chase Martinez threw two-thirds of an inning and allowed no runs and two hits, and Anthony Defrancesco (4-2) took the loss after allowing a run on one hit, walking four and striking out four in 1-2/3 innings of work.

Alec Ortiz went 4-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, Justen Burkey homered on a two-hit day while knocking in three, scoring twice, and walking once, Justin Ramirez went 2-for-5 with a double, a pair of runs scored, and an RBI, and Brent Smith added a hit, scored twice, and knocked one run in.

Up Next:

Coached by Joe McDonald, the Firestorm close play against Antelope Valley with a non-conference game on Thur., April 8 at 10 a.m. Arizona Time at The Hangar in Lancaster, Calif.