Fullerton, Calif.- On Friday, Arizona Christian rallied in game one for the win and was one out away from sweeping NAIA number 22 ranked Hope International. The split keeps ACU chasing HIU by three games with only four to play for first in the GSAC.
Game Info
- Game one score: Arizona Christian- 6, Hope International- 5
- Game two score: Hope International- 10, Arizona Christian- 9
- Records: Arizona Christian- 29-15, 11-9 GSAC, Hope International- 31-10, 14-6 GSAC
- NAIA Top 25 ranking: ACU- not ranked, Hope International- 22
- Location: Bastanchury Park, Fullerton, CA
ACU Game One Stats
Inside Game One
- HIU scored the first five runs- three in the second, two in the third
- In the fourth, Miles singled, Schleisman doubled, and Hipolito scored both with a single
- Following a groundout and fly to advance Hipolito to third Abbi Covalt singled her home
- Ariel Rico threw three scoreless to earn her first win of the season
- Trailing 5-3 in the seventh, the Firestorm scored three runs without a hit (hit batter, two walks, two fielder's choices, error, and sac fly)
- Savannah Smith re-entered to earn the save- facing just three batters
ACU Game Two Stats
- Buckley 2-6, HR, 2B, 3 RBI
- Schleisman- 2-4
- Taylor Alto- 2-3, RBI, 2 runs
- Neeley Bell- 1-4, 2B, RBI
- Covalt- 2-3, 2 RBI
- Ryann Reese- 2-4, 2 runs, RBI
Inside Game Two
- ACU scored in the first four innings, HIU scored in three of the first four
- Miles singled, stole second, and scored on an error in the first
- The Royals moved ahead 2-1 before Buckley cranked out her sixth home run of the season with Reese aboard
- ACU put up a three spot in the third- Reese singled in a run and Buckley doubled home two
- After HIU scored three in third, Covalt singled to plate Alto and Hipolito
- The Royals made it 8-6 in the bottom of the fourth
- In the bottom of the sixth, Hope International tied the game at 8-8 to ultimately forced extra innings
- Bell doubled home pinch runner Brooklyn Thurgood in the ninth
- With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, an error allowed the tying run to score
- ACU was scoreless in the tenth and HIU ended the game with a run
Thoughts from Coach Mayben
"Proud of the grit and pose we played with today. Coming back in game one and competing into extra innings in game two keeps us controlling our destiny as it relates to being in the GSAC tournament."
Up Next
Arizona Christian and Vanguard will battle for second place in the GSAC on Saturday as both teams are 11-9 in GSAC action. First pitch from Costa Mesa will at 12:00 pm.
