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Arizona Christian University

OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE OF ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
ACU Baseball advances
9
Winner Arizona Christian ACU 40-14-1
8
Central Methodist CMU 35-14
Winner
Arizona Christian ACU
40-14-1
9
Final
8
Central Methodist CMU
35-14
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Arizona Christian ACU 0 0 2 1 0 4 2 0 0 9 13 2
Central Methodist CMU 0 2 1 2 1 0 0 2 0 8 14 3

W: Robertson, Payton (5-1) L: F. Seitz (11-4) S: Hohensee, Jackson (12)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Natalie Lopez

ACU Outlasts Central Methodist In Back-and-Forth NAIA Opening Round Thriller

Lakeland, Fla.- The Firestorm held off a late rally from Central Methodist to claim a 9–8 win in a nail-biting NAIA Opening Round matchup. ACU used a four-run sixth inning and clutch pitching to overcome an early deficit and secure their 40th win of the season.

Trailing 6–3 heading into the sixth, the Firestorm surged ahead with back-to-back big swings. Kane Kiaunis belted a two-run homer to right center to cut the lead to one, and Nathan Greene followed later in the inning with a two-RBI double down the left field line to give the Firestorm a 7–6 advantage. They added two more in the seventh thanks to a Kiaunis RBI single and a costly Central Methodist error, giving them a 9–6 cushion. Central Methodist made it interesting late. A groundout and an RBI single in the eighth inning trimmed the lead to one, thanks to an incredible home run robbery in right field by Logan Sanders. ACU closer Jackson Hohensee shut the door in the ninth, earning his 12th save of the season.

Payton Robertson picked up the win in relief, tossing 3.1 innings while allowing two runs on six hits. Starter Frank Wierman lasted 4.1 innings, giving up six runs. Hohensee pitched a scoreless ninth to seal the win. Offensively, Greene led ACU with a 3-for-4 performance and two RBI. Kiaunis drove in two runs, including his home run, while Kimo Fukofuka also went deep in a 2-for-4 day. 

The Firestorm hit a huge milestone after winning 40 games in a season, the most in program history. 

ACU advances in the NAIA Opening Round and will play Southeastern tomorrow at 8 AM PST. 


Game Info
  • Score: Arizona Christian - 9, Central Methodist - 8
  • Records: Arizona Christian - 40-14-1, Central Methodist - 35-14
  • Location: Ted A. Broer Stadium, Lakeland, FL

ACU Stats
Inside The Game
  • In the top of the third inning, the Firestorm were down 0-2 when Jaylen Edmonds singled up the middle and earned an RBI after Nathan Greene scored. Trey Tarver doubled to center field and earned an RBI after Logan Sanders scored. ACU tied the game, 2-2. 
  • In the fourth inning, Kimo Fukofuka hit a bomb to left field, tying the game. ACU tied the game, 3-3. 
  • In the sixth inning, Kiaunis hit a huge 2-run home run. Nathan Greene also doubled down the left field line, earning 2 RBI. ACU led 7-6. 
  • In the seventh inning, Kiaunis singled to right center and earned an RBI after Edmonds scored. Jared Anderson reached on an error by the second baseman and Kiaunis scored on the same play. ACU led 9-6.
  • ACU won the game, 9-8. 

Thoughts from Right Fielder Logan Sanders
"[After making the home run rob catch], I just wanted to make a play. It was the first pitch of the inning, I had to get back to the wall. The ball just kept carrying and next thing you know I got up on the fence and made the catch. It just dropped in my glove. [This] team is relentless, they absolutely know how to win baseball games and it's just a fun group of guys...we're not done [yet]." 

Up Next
On Wednesday, the Firestorm will play against the #1 seed Southeastern at 8 AM PST.  


 
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