Box Score WADDELL, Ariz. - Led by third-year Head Coach Joe McDonald, the Arizona Christian University baseball team (0-1) kicked off its 2021 campaign with a 6-3 loss to Taylor University (3-1) Wednesday evening at Canyon View High School.
Series Notes:
The loss ties the all-time series between the two teams at 1-1. ACU won the first-ever matchup between the two programs last season by a score of 17-12 at home on Feb. 1, 2020.
The Game:
It was a cold night in the west valley as the Firestorm kicked off their long-awaited 2021 season. The weather was not the only thing that was cold as both teams had cold bats for much of the evening, totaling just 11 combined hits in the contest.
Taylor notched four runs in its half of the first inning behind a bases-loaded hit by pitch and walk, and a two-RBI double. ACU narrowed the score to 4-2 by adding a pair of runs in the third, but Taylor would plate one run in the seventh and one in the ninth while allowing the Firestorm to just one final run in the seventh en route to earning the 6-3 victory.
Inside the Box Score:
ACU starting pitcher Trevor McGee (0-1) went just 2-2/3 innings, allowing four runs on one hit, walking five and striking out four in the loss. He would be followed by six different Firestorm relievers which combined to allow two runs on five hits, walking 10 and striking out 11.
Thoughts from Coach:
"I thought we did a good job of playing as a team and competing until the very end, but the bottom line is that we walked too many guys and swung at too many pitches out of the zone. Overall our guys did a good job of pitching out of jams and playing defense when it mattered, but we just didn't have the timely hits early and they did. It was a good college baseball game, but we have to limit the free passes as we head into tomorrow."
Up Next:
The Firestorm host the College of Idaho for a non-conference game as part of the Coach Calderone Classic at Apollo High School at 6 p.m. Arizona Time. Spectators will not be permitted.
