Glendale, AZ – The No. 23 ranked Arizona Christian University baseball team (19-16, 7-11) fought hard but dropped the second doubleheader against No. 9 Vanguard (29-5, 13-3) as they lost the first game in a tight battle 9-8 and fell 8-3 in the second game on Saturday afternoon at Apollo High School.

Series Notes:

With the losses the Firestorm record against the Lions falls to 12-28.

Game 1:

Griffin Henry got his first start of the year and pitched 2 innings while allowing five runs on six hits while walking one. Eli Elliot took the loss in relief pitching 3 1/3 innings while allowing three runs, two earned on three hits while walking one and striking out two. Manny Villa led the Firestorm's offense going 3-for-3 with two RBIs.

The Lions opened the scoring in the top of the first as they took an early 2-0 lead. The Firestorm quickly fought back in the bottom of the inning as Villa delivered a two our RBI double to pull the Firestorm back within 2-1. The Lions would answer though with two more in the second and third innings as they increased their advantage to 6-1.

The Firestorm would strike back in the bottom of the fourth inning as they got a rally started with runners on first and second with one out. Garcia would then step to the plate and rip a single into centerfield to make it 6-2. Kurtis Roberts would then lay down a perfect bunt resulting in an RBI single to cut the deficit to 6-3. Caleb Beach then smashed a double into centerfield to score two more runs and make it 6-5. The Firestorm would have to wait until the fifth inning to tie the game as Villa delivered a sac fly after a Justin Ramirez triple to make it 6-6.

The Lions would answer though with two in the sixth and one in the ninth to extend their lead back to 9-6 heading into the bottom of the ninth. The Firestorm didn't give up as they started another rally putting two on with nobody out. Justin Ramirez then grounded into a fielder's choice as a run scored to make it 9-7. The with two out Sean Garcia delivered a base hit off the first base bag to pull the Firestorm within one but that was all they would get as they fell 9-8.

Inside the Box Score:

Villa: 3-for-3, 2 RBIs

Garcia: 4-for-5, 2 RBIs

Beach: 1-for-3, 2 RBIs

Roberts: 1-for-2, RBI

Ramirez: 1-for-5, RBI

Game 2:

Jackson Hohensee (1-4) took the loss pitching 3 1/3 innings while allowing six runs, four earned on eight hits while striking out three and walking one. Trey Tarver led the Firestorm's offense going 1-for-3 with two RBIs.

The Lions once again jumped ahead early as they took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. They would the add another in the third to stretch their lead to 3-0. The Firestorm once again fought back as Trey Tarver delivered a two out two RBI single down the right field line to pull the Firestorm within 3-2. Bad decisions cost the Firestorm in the fourth inning as the Lions scored three runs to make it 6-2. The Firestorm would pull a run back in the bottom half on a sac fly by Collins to make it 6-3. The Lions would score two more in the game as they came away with an 8-3 victory.

Inside the Box Score:

Tarver: 1-for-3, 2 RBIs

Collins: 0-for-2, RBI

Thoughts From Coach:

After the series Coach Joe McDonald stated, "We are in a rough spot of the season and it's time to pull together and come together as a team more than ever before. We will be working on staying positive and get through this rough spot. We will be stronger at the end because of it, but it's time to step up."

Up Next:

The Firestorm continue play at home as they take on Benedictine Mesa on Tuesday, March 15 at 6:00 PM at Canyon View High School in Waddell, Arizona.