Glendale, Ariz. - Positive starts in each game of Saturday's double header resulted in a zero sum, as the Firestorm recorded 10 total errors and lost both to rival OUAZ. The body of work was similar to last week's double against Jessup, as ACU and OUAZ combined for 34 hits in game one and only 14 in game two.
Marques Titialii gave the Firestorm something to smile about, a single in the opener bringing in two runs and establishing him as the outright RBI leader in program history (124). The senior from Seattle, Washington broke a tie with Justin Ramirez, who holds the ACU Baseball's record for career hits (233).
There were three Firestorm home runs in game one, catcher Troy Collins leading those with one in the overall hitting category with three hits and three RBIs. Deshon Thomas and Jaylen Edmonds each reached safely on three occasions in the two ball games, Thomas separating himself with a team-leading two doubles.
Jackson Hohensee made his third start of 2024 in game one, and gave up a season-high nine hits and six runs in four innings on the mound. Eli Elliott was tasked with game two, in which he held his own by working five full innings, striking out five Spirit batters and allowing two runs.
The GSAC standings are now jam-packed through Week 5, Jessup and Hope International tied at the top with a 4-2 record and ACU is one of four teams with three conference wins.
GAME INFO
Game 1 Score: RV Arizona Christian 9 | OUAZ 20
Game 2 Score: RV Arizona Christian 2 | OUAZ 4 (7 INN)
Records: RV ACU 8-8 (3-3 GSAC) | OUAZ 14-4 (3-3 GSAC)
Location: Greenway High School - Glendale, AZ
STAT TRACKER (GAME 1 & 2)
Troy Collins - 3 hits, 3 RBIs, 1 home run
Marques Titialii - 2 hits, 2 RBIs
Kane Kiaunis - 2 hits, 1 RBI, 1 home run
Trey Tarver - 1 hit, 2 RBIs, 1 home run
Deshon Thomas - 3 hits, 1 RBI, 2 doubles
Jaylen Edmonds - 3 hits, 1 RBI
Jackson Hohensee - 4.0 IP, 6 RA, 5 SOs
Eli Elliott - 5.0 IP, 2 RA, 5 SOs
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE (GAME 1)
Hohensee survived the first inning, not allowing a run despite OUAZ recording back-to-back singles. The first three Firestorm batters reached and Collins paid off a run (Jared Anderson) with a single up the middle. A Thomas groundout left three on the pond.
In the second frame, Hohensee sat the Spirit down in order before Titialii made history with a two-RBI single to lift ACU to a 3-0 lead through two innings. OUAZ racked up four hits, including a Nathan Tarver double, to add two runs in the third and the Firestorm were blanked in their next at-bat.
The fourth inning was the beginning of the end for ACU, as the Spirit ran up their score by four via three hits and the first Firestorm error. Edmonds led off the fourth with a base-hit but nothing came from it. Trey Trimble hammered a solo home run for the Spirit in the fifth to vault the advantage to 7-3. The game was certainly still up for grabs as Collins responded with a homer of his own in the same inning, which scored Tarver and made it a 7-5 ball game.
It all came undone for ACU in the sixth. The Firestorm yielded nine runs, six hits and committed four errors in a disastrous sequence of events. All but the first run (Daniel Durazo) was unearned and now the deficit was 16-5. No scoring would occur over the next three half innings.
OUAZ continued to add insult to injury in the eighth, Christian Powell smashing a two-run home run and Nathan Tarver sending his second double of the game into left field to score Durazo.
The Firestorm would add one run in the eighth and three in the ninth. It was too little, too late but Tarver and Kane Kiaunis each homered and both Anderson and Thomas doubled in the team's final time at the plate.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE (GAME 2)
In stark contrast to game one, the nightcap was defined by pitching and blown offensive opportunities. OUAZ's Durazo continued his hot play, knocking in Matthew Carter who had led the game off with a double. Catcher Ryan Eastham was quick to answer for the Firestorm, leading off the first with a solo home run to left field. Through one complete, the seven-inning contest was level at 1-1.
A passed ball aided the Spirit's Nano Perez in reaching home, Logan Meyer grounding out to first and scoring his teammate. Elliott stranded two runners on second and third by forcing a lineout to center field. Edmonds converted the second Firestorm run of game two with a single through the right infield and two outs followed to ensure a 2-2 lock through two complete frames.
Neither team scored over the proceeding four innings, ACU stranded five and OUAZ four runners. The best opportunity for either squad was the Firestorm's fourth, where Titialii flew out to center with the bases loaded.
Tarver transitioned from right field to pitcher in the seventh and the first two Spirit batters got aboard. Durazo hit for the third time in the game and scored two thanks to a fielding error by Eastham. The damage dealt was kept at two, but put ACU in an all-or-nothing situation in the seventh.
Tarver led off the Firestorm's last gasp with a walk and a groundout and pop out advanced him to third. Anderson was one swing away from tying the game if he homered, but struck out swinging to put the nail in the coffin.
THOUGHTS FROM COACH JOE MCDONALD
"Today was a tough day for us," Coach McDonald said. "Hopefully it gets us hungry to work a little harder and tighten up the little things that are costing us ball games."
NEXT FOR THE FIRESTORM
The Arizona Christian Firestorm will try and regroup this Tuesday, as they face Park Gilbert (8-7, 2-0 Cal Pac) in a single non-conference game. First pitch from Greenway High School is slated for 7:30 PM. 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!
