Phoenix, AZ- After jumping out to a 6-0 lead the Firestorm could not hold on and fell 12-10 to San Diego Christian on a windy Friday afternoon.  Sophomore Michael Dunnebecke reached base safely all five trips to the plate as he went 3-3 with two walks.  Junior Hector Ortiz was 3-4 with his first home run of the season.

The Firestorm (9-23, 6-19 GSAC) started out hot as they scored six runs in the first four innings.

Ortiz opened the scoring in the first after walking then Senior Tate Erickson walked behind him.  Ortiz stole third and then came home on an errant throw.

In the second, Dunnebecke started a three run rally after drawing a one out walk.  Senior AJ Arroyo singled.  Senior Christopher Burks sent a single back through the middle to score Dunnebecke.  Ortiz doubled home Arroyo.  Senior Tatum Hendrix sent a sacrifice fly to right to cash in Burks.  ACU left the bases loaded but still held a 4-0 edge.

Burks walked to lead off the fourth and Ortiz followed with a line drive home run to left center for what appeared to be a comfortable 6-0 advantage.

Senior Dean Jackson started out pitching darts and actually had a perfect game going through the first four innings.  But everything changed in the fifth.

The Hawks (20-16, 12-13 GSAC) used a single, wild pitch, error, and another single to get two on the board in their half of the fifth.  They added three more in the sixth to close the gap to 6-5.

A pitch off the leg of Ortiz opened the bottom of the sixth.  Hendrix singled moving Ortiz all the way to third.  Erickson chopped a ball down the first baseline and reached on fielder's choice when the SDCC first baseman made a nice bare handed grab to throw Ortiz out at the plate.  Junior Jose Pereyda followed with a triple to center to drive home Hendrix and Erickson.  Junior Jake Howard bounced a ground rule double over the center field fence to bring in Pereyda.  ACU was up 9-5.

However, SDCC countered with a four spot in the seventh inning to create a 9-9 tie.

Back-to-back singles by Dunnebecke and Arroyo followed by an Ortiz double gave the Firestorm a 10-9 lead in the bottom of the seventh.

Junior Andrew Mirasty relieved Jackson in the seventh and retired the one batter he faced. 

Sophomore Wade Mason came into attempt a six out save.  He retired the first four batters and looked on track.  But the next five reached and when the dust settled the Hawks had taken the 12-10 lead.

ACU went down in order in the bottom of the ninth.

On Saturday, the Firestorm and the Hawks will face off again for a double header starting at 11:00 am.  ACU will honor their eight seniors in between games immediately following the first game.