Prescott, Ariz. - Arizona Christian came out on top 12-11 in a back-and-forth affair with Embry-Riddle (AZ) on Wednesday afternoon. After squandering an early six-run advantage (7-1), the Firestorm broke a seventh-inning tie and maintained distance through the finish line. A closing regular-season victory capped off an 18-3 (7-2 GSAC) stretch for ACU after getting out of the gates slow at 14-14. 

Trey Tarver, the game's starting pitcher and designated hitter, was dynamite in both roles. He rang up three Eagles, batted in a team-high four runs and unloaded the Firestorm's only long ball (his 12th of the season) in the sixth inning. 

Third baseman Kane Kiaunis knocked in three runs on three hits. Kiaunis' latest multi-hit game is his 20th of the season and sixth with at least three hits. 

Matthew Beckworth continued to impress (2-for-5), recording at least one hit in nine of his last 10 games. With a double in his first plate appearance, the shortstop has registered eight of his 11 total extra-base hits this season in that same 10-game period.

Despite not converting either of his two hits into RBI, Marques Titialii has now hit safely in 19 of his last 20 games with 12 of those being multi-hit in composition. Jared Anderson did his damage early, a sacrifice fly in the first and a single in the second bringing in three Firestorm runs.

Harrison Howell (0.1 IP, 1 RA), one of eight relievers, earned his second win of 2024 while Jackson Hohensee (1.0 IP, 3 K) saved the day in the final frame for the second straight game.

On the precipice of the postseason, ACU maintains a .329 BA (2nd in GSAC, T-26 in NAIA), 5.12 ERA (3rd in GSAC), .565 SLG (2nd in GSAC, 16th in NAIA) and has 435 RBI (1st in GSAC, 4th in NAIA).  

GAME INFO

Score: RV Arizona Christian 12 | Embry-Riddle (AZ) 11
Records: RV ACU 32-17 (14-10 GSAC) | ERAU 26-18 (14-7 Cal Pac)
Location: Eagle Baseball Field - Prescott, AZ

STAT TRACKER

Trey Tarver - 3 hits, 4 RBI, 3 runs
Kane Kiaunis - 3 hits, 3 RBI, 2 runs
Matthew Beckworth - 2 hits, 2 RBI, 1 double
Jared Anderson - 1 hit, 3 RBI
Marques Titialii - 2 hits, 2 runs
Andrew Ivy - 1 hit, 3 runs
Ryan Eastham - 1 hit, 1 run, 1 double
Tarver - 2.0 IP, 1 RA, 3 K

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

A lead-off double from Andrew Ivy set the tone, as the next two batters (Titialii, Tarver) walked and the bases were juiced with no outs. Kiaunis singled and the runs were flowing. Anderson hit a sacrifice fly to score a second run before Beckworth's double cleared the remaining occupied bases. Tarver's opening on the mound was inauspicious (two lead-off doubles) but he worked a flyout and two strikeouts to dot the final page of a 4-1 first inning.

Though the second did not begin as promising, ACU rattled off three consecutive singles with two outs in the back of its mind and added three to its tally. Anderson's single was the final of the three, and was the most potent as two Firestorm (Kiaunis, Tarver) scored because of it. Tarver preserved a 7-1 lead by shredding through the ERAU side in "three up, three down" style.

Following a scoreless third, Tarver was stranded at second after a one-out double. The Eagles jumped on the idle Firestorm with a three-run fourth inning. Roberto Garza-Nunez and Kevin Fedoruk each homered (Garza-Nunez's being a two-run shot) and the lead shrunk down to three.

The Firestorm were once again blanked on the scoreboard (one left on base) in the fifth. Payton Robertson made his 15th pitching appearance of the season in the same stanza, and definitely is one he wants to move on from. He surrendered six hits (three doubles) and four ERAU runs to lose the lead all together in the fifth. 

Titialii got into the hit column in the sixth and Tarver immediately paid off his effort with a moon ball over the back fence. ACU regained a slim 9-8 advantage but was denied any further scoreboard damage with the proceeding three Firestorm batters retired. Travis Strickler, reigning Cal Pac Baseball Player of the Week, recorded the game's lone triple and was sent through home by Drew Barragan (ground out) to tie things up at 9-9.

Similar to the game's opening, the Firestorm loaded the bases in the seventh with two outs, yet to score a run. Tarver utilized a very patient walk to provide the go-ahead run (Ryan Eastham) prior to Kiaunis pounding a ball to center and converting two more. 

Three Firestorm pitchers (Howell, Noah DeLuca, Sean Wiese) were needed, but their combined work left the Eagles' seventh-inning rally at two runs. 

Jackson Van Eyk, without run help in the eighth, struck three batters out and stranded one. In a true closer's role, Hohensee mastered the pressure-cooker for the second straight night and preserved a 12-11 lead with three sensational strikeouts.

THOUGHTS FROM COACH JOE MCDONALD

"We overcame a lot of adversity today and were able to come out on top, finishing the regular season with another win," Coach McDonald said. "I'm so proud of our guys after starting 14-14 and where we are today. It's time to elevate our practice intent and our overall game and performance to prepare for the postseason."

NEXT FOR THE FIRESTORM

Arizona Christian will quickly get their minds into postseason mode, as they meet 2-seed Jessup on Monday in the opening game of the 2024 GSAC Baseball Tournament (April 29-May 2). Conference championship action will get underway at 2:00 PM from OC Great Park in Irvine, California. Don't miss a single play with live stats (link still to be created) and watch the broadcast at https://www.gsacsportsnetwork.com/. Follow the entire 2024 GSAC Baseball Tournament here.
    
                          
Roll Storm!