Glendale, Ariz. - The Firestorm won the battle of the birds on Solar Eclipse Monday, defeating Saint Katherine 12-6 with prolific hitting in their 40th game of the season. ACU notched their 15th game with 10 or more runs (12) and ninth with 15 or more hits (15).

Third baseman Riley Quinton entered hitless (0-for-19) but reached safely on his first three at-bats against the Firebirds, closing the contest 3-for-5 highlighted by a solo homer in the third inning.

He certainly was not alone, as nine other Firestorm players registered at least one hit. Jared Anderson equaled Quinton's three hits, scoring two runs and stealing two bags. Matthew Beckworth delivered a season-high three RBI on two hits, the shortstop really coming into his own in his eighth start of 2024.

Besides Quinton's bomb, Marques Titialii and Troy Collins each went yard, solo shots in the first and sixth innings respectively. 

Of note, Titialii became ACU Baseball's all-time leader in career total bases on April 5th against OUAZ. The senior passed up Justin Ramirez's mark of 326 (2020-23), adding yet another feather in his cap.

Collins fired off his sixth home run in this game, but his fifth this past Saturday against OUAZ brought with it more history. His two-run home run in the 16-6 victory was the team's 59th of the season, breaking the program record for most home runs in a single season (58 in 2023) with 11 games still left in the regular season at the time.

Deshon Thomas stole a season-high three bases (16 total is now T-3rd in GSAC) to go along with a single, hit-by-pitch plate performance.

GAME INFO

Score: RV Arizona Christian 12 | Saint Katherine 6
Records: RV ACU 24-16 (12-9 GSAC) | USK 3-16 (2-11 Cal Pac)
Location: Greenway High School - Glendale, AZ

STAT TRACKER

Riley Quinton - 3 hits, 3 RBI, 1 home run
Matthew Beckworth - 2 hits, 3 RBI, 1 run
Jared Anderson - 3 hits, 2 runs, 2 stolen bases
Andrew Ivy - 1 hit, 2 RBI, 1 run
Troy Collins - 1 hit, 1 RBI, 1 home run
Marques Titialii - 1 hit, 1 RBI, 1 home run
Sean Garcia - 1 hit, 2 runs, 1 double
Deshon Thomas - 1 hit, 3 stolen bases
Kane Kiaunis - 3.0 IP, 1 RA, 3 K

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

Kiaunis, a usual staple third baseman for the Firestorm, made his first start on the mound and stranded one walked runner in the opening inning. Titialii jumped on the first pitch he was offered by USK's James Benham and homered to left center with no one aboard. Collins and Anderson would get on base but not produce another run.

Kiaunis gave up his first hit of the game (Jose Carranza) but kept the Firebirds scoreless for the second straight outing. ACU led off the second with three straight singles and a fielder's choice advancement, balk and walk saw three more runs etched on the scoreboard.

A USK lead-off single (Jesse Coats) and two walks by Kiaunis set up first baseman Jordan Frye's sacrifice fly and first Firebird run in the third frame. Another three Firestorm runs would score to inflate the lead to 7-1, Beckworth credited with a two-RBI single and Quinton on cloud nine after a solo blast over the right-field fence.

Christian Lucero, the eventual winning pitcher, only required nine offerings to obtain three outs and escape the fourth. For the third consecutive inning, ACU sent three runners across home plate featuring Anderson's third single and a Quinton two-RBI single.

Both sides went down in order in the fifth before the Firebirds scored two runs on only one hit in the sixth. Collins helped the Firestorm take an 11-3 advantage into the seventh with a lead-off solo home run.

Mackenzie Salmon made easy work of the seventh, aided by a double-play ball on his eighth pitch of the inning. Andrew Ivy refused to go hitless for more than one game, scoring Justin Colon in the seventh with an RBI-single.

Harrison Howell would allow two home runs (Frye and Henry Palmer) before shutting the door on the eighth and Jackson Hohensee finished a seven-arm effort with three force-outs in the ninth.

THOUGHTS FROM COACH JOE MCDONALD

"Nice to get a win tonight," Coach McDonald said. "We did a lot of good things and continue to find little areas to improve on. Our group is resilient and will continue to make sure we tighten things up each and every day going forward."

NEXT FOR THE FIRESTORM

The Arizona Christian Firestorm will make the short trek to Thunderbird High School for a Thursday night matchup against SAGU American Indian College (7-26). First pitch is set for 7:00 PM. Live stats and video will not be available for this game. 
    
                          
Roll Storm!