Phoenix, AZ- Four innings of scoring and two strong pitching performances helped Arizona Christian blank Embry-Riddle 11-0 (5 innings) and 4-0 to open their season on Saturday.  Senior Meaghen Nelson went 6-7 on the day.  Senior Abby Beasley and Junior Kylie Christman both homered.

The season opened with the two teams going scoreless through two and a half innings.

But then the Firestorm (2-0) came to bat in the bottom of the third.  A walk to Nelson and single by Senior Alyssa Vanderdrink set the table for Beasley to launch her first home run of the season to left center.  An error, double by Junior Taylor Fabing, and single from Senior Jackie Aguilar plated two more runs for a 5-0 edge.

In the bottom of the sixth, ACU exploded for six more runs highlighted by a grand slam home run by Christman.  Senior Presley Whetman doubled for her first RBI of the season to cap the scoring in the inning.

Aguilar worked around a little trouble in all but one inning though did not allow a hit until the top of fifth.  She helped her shutout cause by retiring a runner at the plate after a comebacker.  In the end, Aguilar threw the complete game to start the year 1-0.

Game two started in similar fashion as game one as zeroes were put on the scoreboard until the bottom of the bottom of the fifth.  Whetman was hit by a pitch followed by Junior Sianna Gomez singling to center.  Another single loaded the bases before Vanderdrink doubled to drive home Whetman and Gomez.

An inning later, Sophomore Ashlynn Preciado reached on a fielder's choice, Freshman Jenna Castilleja singled, and Gomez cashed in Preciado and Castilleja with a single for the final 4-0 tally.

Speaking of Preciado, she went the distance in the circle for the complete game shutout.  She was aided by a nice diving snag turned double play by Vanderdrink in the sixth.  With two on in the seventh, Preciado ended the game with a strikeout- her fourth of the contest.

Head Coach Trisha Thurston stated, "Thank you to all of the parents, families, students, faculty, and recruits who came out today to support ACU softball in our home opener! It was a great day for softball, and I am so proud of the way the team composed themselves today - making the pitches and plays they needed to and collecting timely hits to win two ball games."

Next Saturday, the Firestorm will take on first year program Benedictine-Mesa at the Inter-Stake Center in Mesa.  First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 pm.