Glendale, Ariz. - ACU played an all-around game in a 6-0 shutout of Oklahoma Panhandle State on the second day of the 5th Annual Coach Calderone Invitational. Jackson Hohensee tallied 10 strikeouts (tied-ninth in program history) in his first start of the season and only allowed two hits in five innings on the mound. Catcher Troy Collins sent two balls soaring over the left-field fence as part of a three-hit night in which he batted in four Firestorm runs. 

Four pitchers (Kane Kiaunis, Harrison Howell, Christian Lucero, Chay Esqueda) were called upon from the bullpen in this one, as they combined for five strikeouts and one allowed hit. 

With their second win of 2024, ACU moves to 17-2 all-time in the Coach Calderone. 

GAME INFO

Score: RV Arizona Christian 6 | Oklahoma Panhandle State 0
Records: RV ACU 2-0 (0-0 GSAC) | OPSU 0-2 (0-0 SAC)
Location: Greenway High School - Glendale, AZ

STAT TRACKER 

Troy Collins - 3 hits, 2 home runs, 4 RBIs
Jaylen Edmonds - 2 hits, 1 RBI
Sean Garcia - 1 RBI
Marques Titialii - 1 hit, 1 double
Deshon Thomas - 2 stolen bases
Jackson Hohensee - 5.0 IP, 2 HA, 10 strikeouts

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE 

Hohensee wasted no time in his first start for Firestorm, striking out the Pioneer side in order. The offensive output seemed to be on hold after opening with a strikeout and ground out, but Marques Titialii kept it alive with a walk in the third position. Collins paid off the patient at-bat with one swing, sending a two-run shot over the left-center wall. 

The second verse, same as the first. Right-hander Hohensee sat down the first three OPSU batters he faced in the top of the second. Following a two walks to open ACU's next chance behind the plate, Jaylen Edmonds sent Sean Garcia home with a single sent down the left-field line to make the lead 3-0. With only one out on the board, Carlos Joaquin walked his third batter of the inning (Jared Anderson) to load the bases. A tapper by Titialii to the second baseman, Ryota Kusumoto, however, ended any hopes for additional damage as the inning closed on a double-play.

In Honhensee's third walk to the mound, he barely saw the rest of the OPSU lineup, forcing a ground out before striking out his seventh and eighth Pioneer. Garcia was unable to score himself in the third inning, but instead was able to send Justin Colon (pinch running for Collins) home with a sacrifice fly to center.

After registering his ninth strikeout of the night, Hohensee finally conceded a hit to OPSU's Aiden Davis, who singled through the left side. A subsequent walk and passed ball opened the door for the Pioneers to get on the board. It certainly looked like at least one run was coming, but a sacrifice fly by Jeremy Dibartolomeo was turned into a double as right fielder Andrew Ivy showed his arm strength. His throw was true and Collins tagged Davis out just prior to home plate to slam the door shut on the inning.

The final tally on the big board came in the form of a Collins' home run. Following a Titialii double, Collins' swing landed true and deposited a second ball well over the left wall.

Hohensee put the finishing touches on the fifth inning, notching his 10th strikeout in 15 batters faced to put himself in line for the win.

In the remaining four innings, no Firestorm pitcher from the bullpen faced more than four batters and it only took 41 combined offerings to put a bow on the game. 

THOUGHTS FROM COACH JOE MCDONALD

"We had a great starting performance and were backed up by four solid bullpen arms," Coach McDonald said. "I really like the fact that we only had one free pass and the defense put a zero on the scoreboard with no errors. Troy Collins had a heck of a day at the plate and caught very well and carried the load offensively. We need to clean up a couple base running mistakes that we are making but we will keep working… excited to finish off the week with a very high quality opponent."

NEXT FOR THE FIRESTORM

The Firestorm will set out with a chance to sweep their three opponents in this year's Coach Calderone Invitational, as #13 MidAmerica Nazarene awaits tomorrow evening. First pitch will come at 6:00 PM on the diamond at Greenway High School, the Firestorm's new home for the 2024 season. Follow the action with live stats at https://acufirestorm.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary and watch the game at https://www.gsacsportsnetwork.com/azchristian. 
    
                          
Roll Storm!