Glendale, Ariz.- On Saturday, Arizona Christian eased through game one before needing a come from behind walk-off win in game two to sweep Benedictine-Mesa.  For the second doubleheader in a row, Savannah Smith collected the win in both games.  Kaitlyn Anderson, Kirsten Garcia, and Jade Phillips were all 3-5 on the day.

Game Info

• Game one score: Arizona Christian - 9, Benedictine-Mesa - 3
• Game two score: Arizona Christian - 5, Benedictine-Mesa - 4
• Records: Arizona Christian - 13-5, Benedictine-Mesa - 1-13
• NAIA Top 25 ranking: Arizona Christian - not ranked, Benedictine-Mesa - not ranked
• Location: ACU Softball Field, Arizona Christian University, Glendale, AZ

ACU Game One Stats

• Taylor Schleisman - 3-3, 2B, 2 RBI
• Anderson - 2-2, 3B, 2 runs, RBI
• Phillips - 2-2, 3B, RBI
• Claire Buckley - 1-3, 2B, 2 runs, 2 RBI
• Smith - complete game win, 5 Ks

Inside Game One

• ACU scored the first five runs of the day in the first two innings
• Buckley walked, stole second, and scored on a bunt single from Schleisman in the first
• In the second, Anderson scored on a bunt by Phillips, Buckley doubled home two, and Buckley scored on an RBI groundout by Jyden Miles
• The Redhawks homered in the top of the third to get on the board
• Anderson tripled to the right center gap to plate Phillips and came home on an RBI groundout from Monique Zarate
• A Miles single, Schleisman double, and sacrifice fly from pinch hitter Brenna Henry tallied the final two runs in the fourth
• Ben Mesa scored their last two runs in the fifth

ACU Game Two Stats

• Miles - 3-4, 2B, game winning run
• Kirsten Garcia - 3-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI
• Buckley - 2-4, run
• Phillips - 1-3
• Smith- 2 IP scoreless relief, win

Inside Game Two

• First three batters of the game for Ben Mesa reached via hit by a pitch and two walks and two scored without the benefit of a hit 
• When the Redhawks scored their third run, they had just one hit on the game
• Ben Mesa built a 4-0 lead with a run in the fifth
• The Firestorm had only one runner reach third in the first four innings
• But in the bottom of the fifth, ACU took advantage of an error with two outs to score a game tying four runs highlighted by a Garcia 2 RBI double
• Smith allowed two singles in the sixth but escaped the inning thanks to a double play before retiring the Redhawks 1-2-3 in the seventh
• Leading off the bottom of the seventh, Miles dropped a double just inside the left field line
• Following a Schleisman groundout to move Miles up, Taylor Alto laid down a perfect sac bunt to allow Miles to slide home for the game winner

Thoughts from Coach Mayben

"Savannah continues to excel in the circle getting both wins today.  The bottom of the order provided a spark in game one executing offensively accounting for six hits and five runs.  Schleisman had an outstanding game at the plate in game one while Garcia was integral in our success in game two.  Proud of the way we fought back in game two and the execution by Miles and Alto to secure the victory."

Up Next

Next week, the Firestorm will leave the greater Phoenix area for the first time this season when they travel up to Ashland, OR, to meet two time defending NAIA champion Southern Oregon.The teams will play just one game on Friday at 4:00 pm before clashing in a doubleheader on Saturday.