Lewiston, Idaho - Jared Anderson hit a sky-scraping home run in the ninth to successfully pull off an 8-7 comeback victory over four-seed British Columbia and earn an NAIA Opening Round crown at Harris Field. The Firestorm trailed by as many as six runs (6-0) and did not possess the lead until Anderson's walk-off artistry. As soon as the right fielder's ball left the park, ACU officially earned its first trip to the NAIA World Series, the sixth of 10 teams to etch their name in the field this season.

The colossal come-from-behind win tied for the second-largest this season and also solidified a 3-0 sweep in the Lewiston Bracket. Joe McDonald's ball club outscored their three opponents 29-10, including an 11-0 shutout of one-seed and host Lewis-Clark State.

A remarkably steady five-man bullpen and standout defensive plays produced five consecutive scoreless innings and kept ACU's championship aspirations alive. Wednesday night featured individual moments of glory, but this was arguably the most clutch team performance in program history.

Marques Titialii answered the bell in the eighth (as he has countless times in his ACU career), smashing a three-run home run that knotted the game at 7-7. The senior's single in the seventh kept his hitting streak going strong at 16 games. In the three Opening Round contests, the left fielder was heralded the offensive MVP with the following stat line: .583 BA (7-for-12), 8 RBI, 2 HR. 

Trey Tarver was a staple in this one, going 4-for-5 at the plate (career-best hits in a single game) and inspiring a late charge by his team. Jaylen Edmonds closely followed with three base-hits and two runs on the base pads, his defensive presence equally invaluable with three putouts and four assists.

Junior Kane Kiaunis was the one who got the comeback off the ground, knocking in ACU's first run with a two-out double in the fifth frame. 

Though Eastyn Culp started slowly, relief efforts from Chay Esqueda (3.0 IP) and Harrison Howell (2.2 IP) paved the way for Jackson Hohensee to earn his fourth win of 2024 in the ninth.

GAME INFO

Score: RV Arizona Christian 8 | RV British Columbia 7
Records: RV ACU 36-19 | RV UBC 34-21
Location: Harris Field - Lewiston, ID

STAT TRACKER

Trey Tarver - 4 hits, 1 run
Marques Titialii - 2 hits, 4 RBI, 1 home run
Jared Anderson - 2 hits, 1 RBI, 1 home run
Jaylen Edmonds - 3 hits, 2 runs
Kane Kiaunis - 1 hit, 2 RBI, 1 double
Andrew Ivy - 1 hit, 1 run
Matthew Beckworth - 1 hit
Eastyn Culp - 2.0 IP, 6 RA
Chay Esqueda - 3.0 IP, 0 RA, 3 K

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

Culp experienced a nightmarish beginning to his 10th start of the year, allowing the first four UBC players to reach safely and three runs without recording a single out. Though Kyle Anderson registered the Thunderbirds' fifth hit with one out on the board, the ACU defense mercifully ended Culp's first inning with a 4, 6, 3 double play. Tarver got the Firestorm into the hit column with a single after two opening swinging strikeouts (Ivy, Titialii) but was stranded at first.

A lead-off popup by UBC seemed to suggest Culp easing his way into the game, but his first pitch was pounced upon by three straight batters. Consecutive singles gave the Thunderbirds another run before Aaron Marsh dealt a serious blow with a two-run home run. Ivy made an amazing diving grab to collect the inning's third out but ACU found itself in a 6-0 hole.

Anderson (walk) became the Firestorm's second base runner, but three straight retirements meant a second zero and still no offensive response. Esqueda stepped in for Culp to begin the third frame and rode a first-batter strikeout to UBC's first scoreless outing.

The third inning saw ACU load the bases with one out, Edmonds and Tarver reaching via singles and Titialii hit by pitch. The situation screamed at least one run, but Kiaunis grounded a 3-1 pitch into a double play and a golden opportunity went by the wayside for the Firestorm.

The second baseman Edmonds did not let the disappointment boil over into the fourth, as he made a leaping catch and caught one in foul territory to secure two quick Thunderbird outs. Ivy then calmly squeezed one on the warning track and sent UBC packing on a "three up, three down" inning. The deficit remained 6-0 after four, as three groundouts stranded Ryan Eastham at second.

Though Esqueda let the first two (Jonny McGill and Mitchell Middlemiss) occupy bases, the junior recorded back-to-back punch outs and forced a flyout to leave UBC begging. With Tarver and Ivy on first and third, Kiaunis delivered the first ACU run with a deep double off the left-center wall. Though Anderson struck out and stranded two, the deficit was now five and momentum was making its way to the Firestorm camp.

Howell, in his 21st appearance on the mound, escaped UBC's third multi-hit inning (two) by forcing three outs. Edmonds executed yet another defensive gem, a 180-degree spin and throw to Tarver at first ensuring the inning's second out. The Firestorm bats, however, had not yet made the turn and the side was retired in order for the first time all game.

The ACU defense stood tall again and put up their fifth straight zero. Beckworth got involved this time around, a laser-like throw to first base capping three groundout plays. 

With UBC starting pitcher James Brock still at the helm, Edmonds and Titialii caused his day to end with singles and the Firestorm's second run. Reliever Adam Kahn came in to face Tarver, who would keep his perfect day alive with a fourth single, score Titialii and advance to third on a fielding error by Middlemiss. Kiaunis took advantage of the error and sent Tarver home on a groundout. Sean Garcia nearly tied the game but Middlemiss avenged his mistake and caught the deep fly ball against the right-field wall.

Howell's day finished after the eighth frame's second out, Tarver keeping his right leg glued to first base and setting up a possible six straight scoreless inning. The Thunderbirds' Marsh jumped on Sean Wiese's second pitch in relief and a bullet over Tarver's head gave them an insurance run (7-4). Christian Lucero, the submarine pitcher, usurped Wiese after just one batter and Anderson also kept his tenure at one with a diving catch in foul territory.

Both Beckworth and Edmonds smacked one-out singles and forced UBC's second pitching change. Tanner Vielguth was given a pinch-hitting opportunity in place of Ivy and frustratingly popped out to short. Two outs on the board and time running out, Titialii struck arguably the most important of his 47 career home runs. Much like Scottie Scheffler's 2024 Masters triumph, the Seattle native's skill shined brightest with odds stacked against him. The game was now level at 7-7 and ACU had resurrected its championship hopes from an early grave.

Jackson Hohensee was given the ball in the ninth and courageously struck out back-to-back batters, putting himself in line for the win if ACU could muster a walk-off run. The air of disappointment after Kiaunis led off with a deep fly out was quickly replaced with pure joy, as the ACU faithful watched Anderson uncork a ball over the fence. His fifth homer of the season secured the Firestorm's first trip to the NAIA World Series and afforded him a hero's lap around the bases.

THOUGHTS FROM COACH JOE MCDONALD

"I LOVE THIS TEAM," Coach McDonald said.

NEXT FOR THE FIRESTORM

Arizona Christian will head back to the valley that is Lewiston, Idaho for the 2024 NAIA World Series, presented by Avista (May 24-31). The Firestorm will battle inside a 10-team field for a chance at their first ever Red Banner. The schedule at the final site, including game times and matchups, will be readily available following the Opening Round's conclusion on Thursday evening. Find all tournament information at https://naiaworldseries.com/. 
                          
Roll Storm!