Tucson, AZ- On Saturday, the Firestorm concluded their participation at the 2017 version of the Tucson Invitational with a record of 6-1.  Sophomore Jenna Castilleja had a big day with a 5-7 (.714) and three RBI effort as the Firestorm split their final two games.

Day three started with a matchup of Arizona Christian and Purdue-Northwest.  The Pride (4-4) plated four runs in the bottom of the first as six of their first seven batters reached safely.

In top of the second, the Firestorm (13-12) countered with three runs when Castilleja singled home Senior Yvette Ortega and PNW threw the ball around the field allowing ACU to score two more runs.

The Pride added a run in the third and Castilleja again drove in Ortega in the sixth to make the score 5-4 in favor of PNW.

Down to their final three outs, Senior Meaghen Nelson drew a pinch hit walk to begin a five run rally without the benefit of an extra base hit.  Ortega (who hit. 667 in Tucson), Sophomore Taylor Babbitt, Junior Ashlynn Preciado, and Junior Cheyann Michael all delivered RBI singles.

Sophomore Anely Marcilla (5-0), who came on in relief two batters into the game, recorded a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh to seal the deal.  Marcilla struck out six in seven innings in the 9-5 win.

Playing their seventh game in three days, ACU used a single from Senior Sianna Gomez (.577 in the seven Tucson games) and double from Preciado to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.  But the Saints (16-1) answered with a solo home run in the bottom of the first.

Castilleja came through with another RBI single in the top of the second for a 2-1 lead.

But Aquinas responded with five unanswered runs before both teams added singles runs in the sixth for the final 7-3 tally.

The Firestorm will have little time to rest up as they turn around and play on Monday at Benedictine-Mesa.  The doubleheader is set for a 2:00 pm first pitch at the Inter-Stake Center in Mesa.