Glendale, Ariz. - The Firestorm came out of the gates slowly, but flipped a switch in the third inning that resulted in a offensively potent 14-4 win over Jessup in their GSAC opener. Eight different players got into the hit column for ACU, combining for four doubles (second-most in a game this season) and three home runs. 

Eastyn Culp earned his first win on the mound with the Firestorm, managing six strikeouts and two allowed runs in 5.1 innings. 

A couple of hitting streaks were kept alive, as Andrew Ivy delivered a 2-of-5 day at the plate that featured a three-run home run and Marques Titialii homered to left field (1-of-4). They now have hit safely in seven and eight consecutive games respectively.

Jared Anderson matched Ivy's three RBI total with a double in the eighth inning while Ryan Eastham and Deshon Thomas each doubled and recorded two RBIs. Trey Tarver launched the final Firestorm home run of the night, a solo shot to right field.

GAME INFO

Score: RV Arizona Christian 14 | Jessup 4
Records: RV ACU 6-5 (1-0 GSAC) | Jessup 10-2 (0-1 GSAC)
Location: Greenway High School - Glendale, AZ

STAT TRACKER 

Andrew Ivy - 2 hits, 3 RBIs, 1 double, 1 home run
Trey Tarver - 3 hits, 1 RBI, 1 home run
Jared Anderson - 1 hit, 3 RBIs, 1 double
Ryan Eastham - 1 hit, 2 RBIs, 1 double
Deshon Thomas - 1 hit, 2 RBIs, 1 double
Marques Titialii - 1 hit, 1 RBI, 1 home run
Eastyn Culp - 5.1 IP, 2 RA, 6 strikeouts

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

Only one hit was recorded between the two teams (Jessup's James Williams III singled to lead off the game) in the opening two innings, as each squad was offensively dormant to begin. Culp forced five outs and rang up one batter, while walking one Warrior.

It was "three up, three down" for the visiting Warriors in the top of the third, Culp registering his second strikeout of the contest during the frame. An Ivy walk kicked off a three-run inning for the Firestorm, coming on two hits. Tarver lit the match on ACU's bats with a single to left field and Titialii reached first on an error. Third baseman Kane Kiaunis outran a throw to first and brought home Ivy before Anderson scored Tarver on a fielder's choice. Eastham placed a sacrifice fly in right field to bring Titialii in for the final run of the inning.

Culp and the Firestorm defense escaped the fourth with still no damage to the scoreboard, only seeing four Jessup batters. Two more runs were tacked on by ACU, courtesy of an Ivy double and Titialii solo home run. 

For the second time of the night, Culp sat the Warriors down in order, this time striking two out and forcing a lineout to first base. The runs were now stacking up like fans watching Tiger Woods at Augusta National, the Firestorm adding on four more in the fifth. An Eastham double and three-run blast from Ivy highlighted an inning that saw nine step up to the plate.

With a 9-0 lead, Culp pitched to four Jessup batters in the sixth before Christian Lucero relieved him of his post. Two Warrior hits, featuring a single from Jack Grant that scored Cody Antone, and a sacrifice fly from Kayde Iranon etched two runs on the board before the half inning would end.

ACU was silenced in the sixth and Jessup chipped away at their deficit in the seventh with one run (9-3) off of Jordan Vickers. Two walks and a single later, Evan Hieb replaced Vickers and successfully got out of a bases-loaded jam by forcing a flyout to center.

The Firestorm hit replay on the previous inning, unable to score and allowing another Warriors' run in the top of the eighth to make it a 9-4 ball game. 

In what would be their final at-bats, ACU made it through the entire lineup and scored five runs on just three hits. Tarver got it off the ground with a solo home run before Anderson ripped a ball down the left-field line to score two that had been walked. With two outs, Deshon Thomas entered to pinch hit and maximized this opportunity with a two-RBI double to left field.

Chay Esqueda punched out two batters in the closer's spot for the Firestorm, sealing a 14-4 win in their GSAC opener.

THOUGHTS FROM COACH JOE MCDONALD

"I thought we had a really good approach at the plate tonight with some big clutch hits as well as a good two strike approach," Coach McDonald said. "We got a great start from Culp."

NEXT FOR THE FIRESTORM

The Arizona Christian Firestorm carry a 1-0 lead into Saturday's double header against Jessup (10-2). Game 1's first pitch will be thrown at 4:00 PM from Greenway High School, with the second game to start approximately 30 minutes after the first game's conclusion. Catch all the action with live stats at https://acufirestorm.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary and watch the broadcast at https://www.gsacsportsnetwork.com/azchristian/.  
    
                          
Roll Storm!