Phoenix, AZ- With the outcome of both games in doubt, Arizona Christian chose the long ball to account for the game winning runs in their sweep of #18 Vanguard 5-4 and 3-1 on Saturday.  Sophomore Ashlynn Preciado, Senior Abby Beasley, and Junior Taylor Fabing all connected on a home run.

Game one started out in appearance to be an old fashioned shootout on the dirt.

Taylor Wilson of Vanguard opened the game by driving the fourth pitch of the afternoon into left center and raced all the way to third for a triple.  But a shallow popup, a foul out, and a strikeout left Wilson stranded at third.  That turned out to have a huge impact on the game that ACU won by just one.

But the Lions (15-12, 1-5 GSAC) did push across four runs with a two run home run in the second and two more runs in the third.

However, the Firestorm (13-4-1, 5-1 GSAC) countered with a run in the first on an RBI single from Senior Meaghen Nelson and three runs in the second keyed by an RBI double for Junior Sianna Gomez and a two run double off the bat of Beasley.

Headed to the bottom of the third, the game was tied at 4-4.  But leading off that half inning, Preciado turned on a pitch and sent a ball down the left line that just cleared the fence and stayed inside the foul pole for a 5-4 ACU lead.

After Preciado's home run (the first of her career), the shootout turned completely into a pitcher's duel between Senior Jackie Aguilar and VU's Alexandra Olvera as the next 22 combined hitters were retired in order.  In fact, there was only one base runner the rest of the game- a single by Vanguard in the top of the seventh.

Aguilar (6-2) earned the win by making Preciado's home run stand up.

The pitcher's duel carried over into the second game just with several base runners.  VU left the bases loaded in the first and once again in the sixth with five base runners stranded in between the first and sixth.  As for ACU, their best opportunity to score before the sixth came in the first as they left two on.

The teams faced a 0-0 tie headed into the bottom of the sixth.  But with one out, Beasley put a charge into a pitch that carried over the left field fence.  Her fourth home run of the season made it a 1-0 game.  Junior Kylie Christman singled before Fabing sent a deep drive to center to give ACU a 3-0 cushion.

Junior Destinee Spencer lost her shutout bid when she surrendered a solo home run with two out in the seventh.  But Spencer earned the complete game win as she improved to 6-1.  Vanguard's Taylor Doyle was charged with the loss despite throwing just 83 pitches over six innings and not allowing a walk.

Head Coach Trisha Thurston stated, "They came out fired up and ready to play today. Our pitchers threw outstanding and our defense made big plays to get out of some tough innings. We hit the ball more consistently in game one and competed all game long. Game two was also a battle and we got the runs we needed with some long shots from Abby and Taylor. I'm proud of the composure and energy everyone showed all day."

On Tuesday, the Firestorm will face off with Hope International (the only other school so far with five wins in GSAC play) at Fullerton College at 2:00 pm.  The Lions will stay in Arizona to face Benedictine-Mesa on Monday and Embry-Riddle on Tuesday.