Glendale, Ariz. –  Behind a dominant start from Frank Wierman and steady offensive production throughout the lineup, Arizona Christian University secured a 7-1 victory over Embry-Riddle on the ACU Baseball Field Opening Night. The Firestorm tallied nine hits and capitalized on four Embry-Riddle errors while holding the Eagles to just four hits.

Cueva led the way offensively with a perfect 3-for-3 night and an RBI, while Kirkpatrick added two hits and scored twice. Ivy also chipped in two hits, including a double. The Firestorm bullpen closed the door as Ty Howry and Colin Plain combined for 2.2 innings, allowing just one run while striking out four.


Game Info

• Game One Score: Arizona Christian - 7, Embry-Riddle - 1
• Records: Arizona Christian - 9-8, Embry-Riddle - 7-11
• Location: ACU Baseball Field, Glendale, AZ

ACU Stats

• Marcellus Cueva - 3 for 3, 3 hits, 1 RBI
• Austin Kirkpatrick - 2 for 4, 2 hits, 2 runs
• Andrew Ivy - 2 for 5, 2 hits, 1 run
• Luke Zuromski - 1 for 4, 1 hit, 2 RBI
• Noah Manasan - 1 for 3, 1 hit, 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 walk

Inside The Game

• ACU broke through in the second inning when Marcellus Cueva laced an RBI single through the right side to plate Austin Kirkpatrick for the game's first run. The Firestorm added to their lead in the fourth behind an RBI single from Noah Manasan, and pushed across another run in the fifth when Luke Zuromski reached on a fielding error that allowed Andrew Ivy to score.
• Wierman (3-1) was in control from the outset, tossing 6.1 scoreless innings while striking out 11. The right-hander scattered just three hits and worked around four walks to keep Embry-Riddle off the scoreboard through the first seven innings.
• ACU continued to apply pressure in the sixth and seventh. Ty Gillespie delivered a sacrifice fly in the sixth, and the Firestorm created separation in the seventh with a key two-run frame. Zuromski ripped an RBI triple to right field before Kolten Lindstrom grounded out to bring home another run, extending the lead to 6-0.
• Embry-Riddle's lone run came in the eighth on an RBI groundout, but ACU quickly answered in the bottom half with another Gillespie RBI groundout to cap the scoring at 7-1.
• ACU won the game, 7-1. 

Up Next
On Friday, the Firestorm will host Embry-Riddle in a doubleheader that starts at 4pm at the ACU Baseball Field.