Glendale, Ariz. - Two first-inning home runs by #15 Ave Maria set the tone in Arizona Christian's second game of the East West Challenge, and carried enough momentum throughout to deliver a 13-9 loss to the Firestorm. In a 10-2 hole through five and half innings, Arizona Christian chipped away with five-run and two-run outings to draw within two (11-9) but could not mount a big enough charge.

Trey Tarver put on quite the show for the Firestorm, as he was responsible for three hits and three RBIs, featuring a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth. Right-fielder Andrew Ivy maximized the effect of his lone hit of the contest, it being a two-run shot over the back fence and Ryan Eastham also recorded a solo home run.

Jackson Hohensee, the reigning GSAC Pitcher of the Week, was burned by three home runs in his four innings on the mound. Despite being credited with a loss, Hohensee punched out six batters to bring his total to 16 strikeouts through 9.0 innings and two appearances.

GAME INFO

Score: RV Arizona Christian 9 | #15 Ave Maria 13
Records: RV ACU 2-3 (0-0 GSAC) | #15 AMU 2-0 (0-0 Sun)
Location: Greenway High School - Glendale, AZ

STAT TRACKER 

Trey Tarver - 3 hits, 3 RBIs, 1 home run
Andrew Ivy - 1 hit, 3 RBIs, 1 home run
Ryan Eastham - 1 hits, 1 RBI, 1 home run
Marques Titialii - 1 hit, 1 double, 1 run
Jaylen Edmonds - 1 hit, 1 RBI, 1 run
Jackson Hohensee - 4.0 IP, 6 RA, 6 strikeouts

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

Ave Maria made Hohensee's first inning a difficult one to swallow, as Francesco Barbieri and David Leonardi each hit solo home runs following outs. A double by ACU's Marques Titialii was followed up by Tarver, who singled through the right side to bring number 11 home. 

A 2-1 ball game would not hold even another half inning, as the visiting Gyrenes added four more in the second. Two of the five hits recorded sent four runners home, a back-to-back combination of a two-base wrap from Tanner Kelly and two-run home run courtesy of Barbieri.

Edmonds kept his hitting streak alive (5 games) with a single and RBI in the second, bringing Tanner Vielguth in to score. Three scoreless innings would immediately follow for the Gyrenes and Firestorm.

An offensive clinic broke out in the sixth inning, as a combined nine runs were tallied between the teams. A salad consisting of hits, one error and defensive mistakes produced four Ave Maria runs to inflate the lead to eight (10-2). For the Firestorm, Jared Anderson led off with a walk and then the cannons were let loose. Tarver homered to left center and Eastham walloped another down the left-field line to stack three ACU runs on top of each other. Vielguth and Sean Garcia would eventually be walked in for the fourth and fifth scores of the inning.

After conceding one run in the seventh (11-7), the Firestorm still had a pulse, as Ivy launched a ball over the right center wall to cut the lead in half. A groundout by Anderson, however, quenched any additional swing. 

Ave Maria was not finished. Pinch-hitter Michael Kelly heaved a ball well over the right-field fence for yet another two-run homer in the game. Two strikeouts and a fly-out sealed a 13-9 loss for the Firestorm.

NEXT FOR THE FIRESTORM

The Firestorm did not have even an hour to dwell on this one, as they saddled up the horses against #6 Tennessee Wesleyan at 4:45 PM (delayed one hour from originally scheduled 3:45 first pitch).  
    
                          
Roll Storm!