Phoenix, AZ- On Friday, Arizona Christian exploded for a seven third inning in the first game against Menlo to earn a split- 12-8 ACU and 5-2 Menlo.  Junior Sianna Gomez was 6-7 with a double and three runs scored on the day.

In the first three innings, the Oaks (18-16, 7-6 GSAC) would not be kept off the scoreboard as Menlo opened the game with a leadoff triple and went on to build a 5-1 lead after the top of the third.

But the Firestorm (24-10-1, 8-4 GSAC) came blazing back in the bottom of the third.  Freshman Anely Marcilla opened the inning with a single.  Gomez followed with another a single.  Senior Alyssa Vanderdrink doubled home Marcilla.  A throwing error kept the inning alive and eventually ACU capped their scoring in the inning with a three run home run to right center off the bat of Senior Jackie Aguilar- her first of the season.  After grabbing the 8-5 lead, Arizona Christian would not look back as they would lead the rest of the way.

ACU added two in the fourth and two more in the sixth.  Junior Meaghen Nelson drove in three of those four runs with a two run single in the fourth and an RBI double in the sixth.  Vanderdrink accounted for the other run with a drive down the left line that just stayed fair for her second home run of the season.

Aguilar started in the circle but was pulled after three innings.  Sophomore Ashlynn Preciado (3-2) pitched the final four innings to earn the win.

The Firestorm posted the first run of the second game thanks to a double by Gomez and sacrifice fly by Senior Abby Beasley.

But Menlo tied it in the second and went ahead 2-1 in the top of the third.  They added two more in the fifth with the big blow being a leadoff home run to move up 4-1.

Arizona Christian plated a run in the bottom of the fifth but 4-2 was as close as they would come.  MC added their fifth run in the seventh.

Junior Destinee Spencer went the distance in the loss but gave up ten hits, six walks, and four earned runs in the process of throwing 128 pitches.

Head Coach Trisha Thurston stated, "Every conference game is a battle.  Every pitch, every play, every moment is important.  We fought hard in the first game and executed some great plays, squeeze bunts, bunts for base hits, hit and runs, etc.  Second game we didn't make enough adjustments at the plate and we weren't able to execute the things we wanted to."

On Saturday, the Firestorm will turn right around and host William Jessup for a twin bill.  First pitch at Shadow Mountain High School is scheduled for 12:00 pm.  Oddly enough, this will be the first meeting of the year between ACU and WJU despite playing in the second round of GSAC play due to a rainout earlier in the season.