Mesa, Ariz. - Timely batting and sturdy defense granted Arizona Christian a 12-2 road victory over RV Benedictine Mesa on Tuesday night. Early runs and five shutout innings thrown by Trey Tarver and Chay Esqueda helped the Firestorm win the season series (3-2) against the Redhawks. The win comes as their fifth in a row and 10th against an opponent either receiving votes or NAIA Top-25.

Marques Titialii, now a two-time GSAC Player of the Week this season, was the offensive leader with three hits and four RBI. His two-base knock in the eighth scored three runs and padded a 7-2 advantage. This latest performance gave the outfielder a team-leading 56 hits and 65 RBI.

Kane Kiaunis uncorked a pair of doubles in the contest and batted in two runs. He has now hit safely in 31 games, 17 of those featuring multiple hits. The third baseman maintains his status as the second-most efficient Firestorm batter (.355 BA), only trailing Andrew Ivy (.369 BA). 

Tarver (2.0 IP, 0 RA, 1 K) not only started the ball game on the mound, but kick-started the offensive attack with an RBI-double in the first frame. Tanner Vielguth registered one of the nine ACU base-hits, and scored a team-high three runs.

Esqueda, Tarver's first reliever, threw an excellent three innings (0 RA, 4 K) and eventually was credited with his second win of the 2024 season.

The Firestorm (12-9 GSAC) have all but locked up the third seed in the upcoming 2024 GSAC Baseball Tournament (April 29-May 2), but could move up to second with a series sweep of The Master's and help from Jessup (14-7 GSAC).

GAME INFO

Score: RV Arizona Christian 12 | RV Benedictine Mesa 2
Records: RV ACU 28-16 (12-9 GSAC) | RV BENU 28-11 (16-2 Cal Pac)
Location: Gene Autry Park - Mesa, AZ

STAT TRACKER

Marques Titialii - 3 hits, 4 RBI, 1 double
Kane Kiaunis - 2 hits, 2 RBI, 2 doubles
Trey Tarver - 1 hit, 1 RBI, 2.0 IP, 0 RA
Tanner Vielguth - 1 hit, 3 runs, 1 stolen base
Matthew Beckworth - 1 hit, 1 run
Jared Anderson - 1 hit, 1 stolen base
Andrew Ivy - 2 RBI, 1 run
Chay Esqueda - 3.0 IP, 0 RA, 4 K

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

With Titialii (single) on first base, Tarver ripped a line-drive to center field and put ACU in front from the get-go. Though Tarver gave up a lead-off single (Alec Larson), he retired the next three Redhawk batters. 

The first four Firestorm reached safely in the second, and two runs were added to the scoreboard. Ivy placed a flyball in left field for a third before Titialii singled for the second straight at-bat and saw a fourth tally make it 5-0 ACU. For the second consecutive inning, Tarver allowed a lead-off single (Jacob Bauler) but for the second consecutive inning stranded the runner at first.

Kiaunis registered his first double of the game in the third frame and would eventually score on a wild pitch. The 6-0 score would remain that way through five complete innings, as the two squads recorded two combined hits between the fourth and fifth. Esqueda retired nine of the 10 Ben Mesa batters he faced.

Ivy remained hitless in the sixth, but a groundout to second base sent Vielguth home for the center fielder's second RBI of the night. The Redhawks converted one of three base runners (Carlos Parra) into their first run thanks to a Bauler double off of Evan Hieb.

The Firestorm went "three up, three down" for the second inning before Ben Mesa added a second run (Jullian Blackwell) on an Ivan Santos single to center field. With two outs and bases full, Titialii put the Redhawks' comeback hopes to bed with a three-RBI double. After Tarver was walked, Kiaunis cleared the bases with a double and made it 12-2 ACU.

Riley Quinton and Jackson Hohensee collectively closed out the eighth and ninth innings on the bump, surrendering two hits and recording six outs while only seeing eight batters.

THOUGHTS FROM COACH JOE MCDONALD

"Tonight was a great team victory with timely hitting, very solid defense and high quality pitching from multiple guys," Coach McDonald said. "That was a big series win on the season. It's time to wake up and prepare to finish the GSAC conference strong."

NEXT FOR THE FIRESTORM

Arizona Christian sets its sights on the final GSAC series of the regular season, The Master's (20-16, 7-14 GSAC) awaiting for a three-game slate in Santa Clarita. Game 1 is scheduled for Friday at 2:00 PM from Lou Herwaldt Stadium. Don't miss a single play with live stats at http://naiastats.prestosports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/boxscores/20240419_0yx3.xml and watch the broadcast at https://www.gsacsportsnetwork.com/azchristian/. 
    
                          
Roll Storm!