WADDELL, Ariz. - The ACU baseball team (19-11) split its doubleheader with Bethesda University of California (3-18) Thursday evening, losing game one 10-8 while earning a 16-2 victory in a seven-inning game two at Canyon View High School.

Series/Game Notes:

ACU leads all-time series, 17-6.  Tonight's game-one loss snapped an eight-game win streak for ACU over Bethesda.  The game-one win also snapped an 11-game losing streak for the Flames.

Game One:

ACU was outhit by Bethesda, 15-12, but the Firestorm offense was still able to plate eight runs in the contest, including a four-run fourth inning.  The Flames stayed hot however and scored in six different innings, holding off the Firestorm to earn the 10-8 victory.

Starting pitcher Andrew Hirsch was roughed up in the no-decision, allowing six runs on eight hits in four innings with one walk and three strikeouts.  Three relievers combined to toss the final five innings, including Troy Osterode who threw a scoreless frame while allowing just two hits.  Alec Ivanoff took the loss.

Brent Smith went 2-for-5 with a run scored, Ramon Miranda added two hits, including a double with two RBI and a run scored, and Damien McElroy and Rhett Holmes each finished with two hits, one double, and each knocked in a run, with McElroy also scoring a pair of runs.

Game Two:

Lefty starter Sergio Heguertty made his season debut for the Firestorm and impressed, earning the win after going six innings while allowing just two runs while walking one and punching out nine.  Randen Garrison stepped in to throw a scoreless seventh inning to close things out.

Offensively, the Firestorm entered the bottom of the sixth with a respectable 5-2 lead, but would blow things open in the sixth, adding 11 runs on seven hits in the inning to go on to win big, 16-2.

Justen Burkey, Smith, Miranda, and McElroy each had multi-hit games with Miranda and McElroy also knocking in two each, and Manny Villa went 1-for-3 with two RBI, two runs scored, two walks, and two stolen bases.  Justin Ramirez stayed hot with a triple, scored three runs, stole two bases, walked twice, and drove in one, and D'Marcus Guillory finished with a hit, RBI, and run scored.

Thoughts from Coach: 

"I was proud of the way we bounced back after a poor performance in game one.  We will continue to work on being better each day and to minimize mistakes.  We did that in the second game and got a solid pitching performance from Sergio."

Up Next:

Coached by Joe McDonald, the Firestorm host Bethesda University of California for a non-conference doubleheader on Fri, March 5 beginning at 4 p.m. Arizona Time at Canyon View High School in Waddell, Ariz.  No spectators are allowed.