Phoenix, AZ- On Monday, Arizona Christian played for the first time under new Head Coach Marcos Gil.  Unfortunately, the Firestorm dropped both games against College of Idaho- 11-7 and 6-1.  Senior Bridget Kruck tripled and drove in two runs in the twin bill.

After holding the Coyotes (6-2) scoreless through two innings, the Firestorm (0-2) struck first.  Senior Chelsea Havill singled up the middle and moved up on a groundout, error, and then scored when Junior Kylee Brown stole second base behind her.

The Yotes scored an unearned run in the top of the third for a 1-1 tie.

But ACU countered with two runs in the bottom half of the third.  Senior Ashlynn Preciado singled through the left side.  Kruck laced a hit into the right field corner and raced all the way to third for the triple scoring Preciado in the process.  Two batters later, Sophomore Paige Church doubled home Kruck for a 3-1 edge.

COI capitalized on an error that kept the inning alive and pushed across five runs (all unearned) in the top of the fourth to grab a 6-3 lead.

An RBI single off the bat off Junior Taylor Babbitt scored Senior Cheyann Michael in the fifth.

Freshman Shae Bushey, Brown, and Freshman Jennifer Vickman all singled to start the sixth.  The trio eventually all scored with Freshman Elsy Guzman and Kruck collecting an RBI to push ACU ahead 7-6.

Needing three outs for the win, ACU saw their chance slip away when three of the first four batters reached in the seventh followed by a grand slam home run for COI.  Another run followed for the final 11-7 score.

Preciado started the game but did not factor in the decision.  Freshman Adri Garcia was charged with the loss although she retired six of the first seven batters she faced in her collegiate debut.

Home runs were also the story of game two.  College of Idaho opened the scoring with two runs in the second including a homer.

Freshman Lauryn Nicander reached on an error and stole second before scoring on an RBI single by Sophomore Tatumn Porras in the fifth.

Any chance of a complete ACU comeback was denied when the Yotes hit two home runs to begin the sixth.  They added two more runs in the inning.

Porras was charged with the loss in her Firestorm debut.

On Saturday, the Firestorm will see Ottawa (AZ) for the first time ever.  The doubleheader is scheduled for a 1:00 pm start at Willow Canyon High School in Surprise.