Irvine, Calif. - Mounting offensive production in yesterday's loss persisted in ACU's elimination game this morning, as Adrian Santa Cruz and the Firestorm defeated the five-seed Vanguard Lions 10-6. Joe McDonald's club created a 6-0 lead through their first four at-bats, all six runs coming with two outs. Despite the Lions winning the hitting battle (14-11), the Firestorm defense collectively stranded 11 runners and weakened any serious threats.

Right fielder Deshon Thomas picked the perfect time for a breakout performance, his two home runs doubling his season total. The senior set the tone with a two-run shot in the first frame and led ACU with three runs on the bases.

Marques Titialii registered his second consecutive three-hit game in the 2024 GSAC Baseball Tournament, matching Thomas' three RBI and painting his own home-run ball (22nd of the season) in the seventh inning. The senior left fielder has now increased his hit streak to 12 games.

Four other Firestorm players got involved in an 11-hit contest, Matthew Beckworth the leading cast member with two knocks and two runs. Beckworth is quietly turning 2024 into a memorable one at the plate, the shortstop now upping his batting average to .443 and RBI total to 21 in 61 at-bats.

Kane Kiaunis, with a sacrifice fly in the eighth, reached the 50-RBI mark in his first season with Arizona Christian.

Starting pitcher Santa Cruz earned his GSAC-leading eighth victory (8-4) after working 5.2 innings. He struck out six Vanguard batters in his first crack against the Lions, having not pitched in the regular-season series at Greenway High School. The senior's 88 strikeouts only trails teammate Eli Elliott (96) and Hope International's Trey Seeley (100) in the GSAC standings.

GAME INFO

Score: RV Arizona Christian 10 | Vanguard 6
Records: RV ACU 33-18 | VU 26-23
Location: OC Great Park - Irvine, CA

STAT TRACKER

Deshon Thomas - 3 hits, 3 RBI, 2 home runs
Marques Titialii - 3 hits, 3 RBI, 1 home run
Matthew Beckworth - 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 double
Kane Kiaunis - 1 hit, 2 RBI, 1 run
Trey Tarver - 1 hit, 1 RBI
Troy Collins - 1 hit
Noah DeLuca - 1 run
Adrian Santa Cruz - 5.2 IP, 3 RA, 6 K

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

The hits and runs would not come right away, as the Firestorm was retired in order by VU's Quincy Vassar. Santa Cruz would survive his first of several scares, stranding a lead-off double from Corey Jarrell and eventual walk to Noah Madole. 

The first of three consecutive two-run innings for Arizona Christian was ignited by Thomas, who lifted a ball just over the extended arm of Levi Hall for a two-run home run. Another potential scoring chance for the Lions (a lead-off single by Antonio Omphroy) was quelled by a heads up play from catcher Troy Collins. After squeezing a third strike, Collins caught Omphroy stealing with a laser to first base man Jared Anderson.

Two opening outs did not seem to faze the Firestorm, as Titialii man-handled a ball down the left-field line for a double. Kiaunis patiently waited for the right pitch and was rewarded with an RBI-single. A Kiaunis steal put him in scoring position, and Tarver got into the hitting and RBI column simultaneously with a single to center. Santa Cruz then neutralized the Lion's third hit of the game to preserve a 4-0 advantage.

Eerily similar to the previous inning, ACU hit into two quick outs but manufactured two runs. Beckworth singled before two straight walks juiced the bases. Titialii, the clutch master, pounced on one and his second hit of the game brought two runs through home. Vanguard did their best ACU impression in the fourth, scoring a run (Hall single) with two outs on the board. Santa Cruz avoided disaster by forcing a flyout to right field and leaving the bases juiced.

The Firestorm scoring streak ended at three innings, being retired in order for the second time all game. Consecutive two-out doubles (Madole and Jarred Mazzaferro) produced the Lions' second run and cut the ACU lead to four (6-2).

A lead-off solo shot from Thomas helped the Firestorm retain a four-run edge through six complete, as the Lions responded with one of their own before Santa Cruz's outing was over. 

Titialii kept the pedal down, equaling Thomas' feat of a lead-off homer in the seventh. Though ACU's second reliever Harrison Howell would concede one run (Fred Buckson RBI-single), the best Vanguard could do was not fall further behind.

A Thomas single and Beckworth double helped the Firestorm add two and reach double-digit runs for the 24th time this season. Vanguard would not go without a fight, however, as Nino Vultaggio smashed a two-run home run and kept it a four-run deficit (10-6) without a single out recorded.

Chay Esqueda did not waver, and not only retired the proceeding three batters in the eighth, but emphatically assured an ACU victory with a "three up, three down" ninth.

THOUGHTS FROM COACH JOE MCDONALD

"Great team win today," Coach McDonald said. "Our intent, fight and focus was on point."

NEXT FOR THE FIRESTORM

Arizona Christian lives to play another game in the conference tournament. The Firestorm will match up with four-seed and RV OUAZ in the Tuesday nightcap. The 6:00 PM first pitch signifies the start of an elimination game for both clubs at OC Great Park. Don't miss a single play with live stats at https://ouazspirit.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary and watch the broadcast at https://gsacsportsnetwork.com/ouazspirt/. Follow the entire 2024 GSAC Baseball Tournament here.
    
                          
Roll Storm!