Irvine, Calif. - Arizona Christian was unable to convert hits into runs early on Tuesday night, and an error-supported deficit added up to a 7-4 loss and GSAC Tournament exit at the hands of rival and four-seed OUAZ. The Firestorm were particularly hurt by the middle portion of the Spirit's lineup (four, five, six), who combined for eight hits and four RBI. It was also an odd night for the usually rhythmic ACU bats, not having consecutive players reach safely until the seventh frame.
Marques Titialii reeled off his third straight three-hit game in the 2024 GSAC Baseball Tournament but did not manage to knock in or score a run for his squad. The elimination contest marked only the fourth time all season the outfielder had at least two hits and did not record an RBI. However, Titialii's 9-for-20 (5 RBI, 2 runs) performance earned him the team's offensive MVP honors for the week.
First baseman Jared Anderson finished with two hits, including his 17th double of the season (4th in GSAC) in the sixth inning.
Tanner Vielguth gave the Firestorm a jolt of energy in the seventh frame, his pinch-hit being a two-run home run that drew Joe McDonald's team to within three (6-3).
Trey Tarver, the game's starting pitcher, registered ACU's final run with an RBI-double in the ninth. The two-base knock assured at least one hit in all three conference tournament games.
The Firestorm leave Irvine without a conference title, and therefore will be dependent on an at-large bid into the 2024 NAIA Baseball Opening Round (May 13-16). Currently the highest rated team receiving votes (practically 26th in the NAIA Top-25 Coaches' poll), the Firestorm are all but assured a spot but will have to wait till Thursday, May 9th for that to become a reality.
GAME INFO
Score: RV Arizona Christian 4 | RV OUAZ 7
Records: RV ACU 33-19 | RV OUAZ 34-16
Location: OC Great Park - Irvine, CA
STAT TRACKER
Marques Titialii - 3 hits, 1 stolen base
Jared Anderson - 2 hits, 1 double
Tanner Vielguth - 1 hit, 2 RBI, 1 home run
Trey Tarver - 1 hit, 1 RBI, 1 double
Deshon Thomas - 1 hit, 1 run, 1 double
Jaylen Edmonds - 1 hit, 1 run
Andrew Ivy - 1 run
Tarver - 3.0 IP, 4 RA, 4 K
Eastyn Culp - 4.0 IP, 2 RA, 4 K
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Two free passes were issued by Tarver to begin the win-or-go-home game. A single from OUAZ's Logan Meyer brought the first run of the night through home plate. Two additional singles (Daniel Durazo, Owen Prendergast) made it 2-0 Spirit before the Firestorm got their first offensive look.
Titialii sought to jumpstart an early response with a single, but a Kiaunis strikeout and Tarver flyout had other plans. Tarver quickly put his pitcher's hat on and stranded an OUAZ lead-off single (Joel Esparza) by retiring the proceeding three players.
Anderson singled in the second and was accompanied on the bases after a Beckworth walk. An untimely Edmonds groundout denied ACU their first run. Despite Tarver pocketing two quick flyouts in the third, former Firestorm Durazo doubled and was converted into OUAZ's third run after a Nathan Tarver single. The next batter appeared to be the final one of the inning, but a fielding error by Edmonds gave N. Tarver the go-ahead and the Spirit a 4-0 advantage.
The Firestorm unfortunately produced a carbon-copy of the second, Titialii and Tarver left on base. Eastyn Culp relieved Tarver (who remained the designated hitter) and struggled out of the gates. The tall right-hander did not record an out till his fourth OUAZ batter and allowed two more runs.
Right fielder Thomas took matters into his own hands in the fourth. Following a double off the left-center fence, Thomas transformed one stolen base into an unassisted run. The Esparza throw to third was a bit inaccurate and Thomas took full advantage and got on a horse all the way through home. That was all she wrote in terms of Firestorm scoring.
Culp put a cap on the OUAZ offense, punching out two and stranding one base runner. Titialii hit his third single off of the Spirit's Connor Wilson, but was once again left on an island after two Firestorm batters went down on strikes.
Culp, in his third full inning of work, blanked a two-hit side from OUAZ. Despite a second straight scoreless outing for the Spirit, the Firestorm came away empty in the sixth and time was quickly evolving into an enemy.
After Culp and the ACU defense put up another goose egg for OUAZ, it was time for the bats to wake up. Multiple hits were strung together for the first time all game, as Vielguth crushed a second-strike ball over the left-field fence and brought Edmonds home with him. Titialii reached for the fourth time thanks to an error from Prendergast, but the sudden burst of life was killed just as suddenly as the next three Firestorm were retired.
A 1-0 OUAZ eighth set the deficit at four (7-3) with one last gasp remaining. Down to their last out, Tarver sent a laser into right center and scored Ivy. A potential two-out rally was soon quenched after Anderson lined out to second baseman Gabriel DeJesus.
THOUGHTS FROM COACH JOE MCDONALD
"Tough loss tonight but I'm really proud of how our guys competed all day today," Coach McDonald said. "Will take a few days off and get back to work on Monday and get ready for the opening round."
NEXT FOR THE FIRESTORM
A GSAC Tournament exit means Arizona Christian will have to wait till Thursday, May 9th to see if their 2024 postseason continues. The NAIA office will announce the qualifying teams for the 2024 NAIA Baseball Opening Round at 4:00 PM CST/2:00 PM MST. To be the first to find out if and where the Firestorm make the cut (an estimated 46 teams will), tune into the 2024 Selection Show which will be broadcast at https://www.youtube.com/user/PlayNAIA.
Roll Storm!
