Waddell, AZ – The Arizona Christian University baseball team (9-1) swept a double header against The University of British Columbia (1-2) as they won the first game 12-8 and followed with a 10-4 come from behind victory at Canyon View High School on Saturday in Waddell, AZ.

Series Notes:

The Firestorm won their first two ever games against The University of British Columbia.

Game 1:

Jordan Vickers (1-0) pitched 6 innings as he earned his first victory of the season, recording eight strikeouts while allowing just two hits and two walks. Marques Titialli led the Firestorm's offense going 1-for-5 with five RBIs and a grand slam.

The Firestorm struck first in the bottom of the first inning as they scored two runs an error and an RBI groundout by Trey Tarver to take a 2-0 lead. That's where the game would stand until the fifth inning when the floodgates opened. With the bases loaded and one Titialli crushed a grand slam over the left field wall to put the Firestorm up 6-0. The Firestorm weren't done as they tacked on two more runs thanks to an RBI single by Randen Garrison and a wild pitch to take a commanding 8-0 lead.

The Thunderbirds would eventually get on the board in the top of the seventh inning on an RBI single to make it 8-1. The Firestorm though quickly answered with more runs as they loaded bases with two outs in the bottom of the inning. Damien McElroy would then work a bases loaded walk to make it 9-1 before Rhett Holmes unloaded a double to right center to drive in three more runs as the Firestorm built their advantage to 12-1. They would end up needing those insurance runs as the Thunderbirds got to the Firestorm bullpen putting up seven runs in the top of the ninth to make it 12-8. Koju Sasaki then came in two get the final two out as they Firestorm held off the Thunderbirds for a 12-8 victory.

Inside the Box Score:

Titialli: 1-for-5, 5 RBIs, HR, GS

Holmes: 1-for-1, 3 RBI

McElroy: 0-for-0, RBI

Tarver: 1-for-4, RBI

Garrison: 1-for-5, RBI

Game 2:

Jackson Hohensee got the start and lasted three innings while allowing four runs, two earned on five hits while striking out five and walking one. Trey Tarver (1-0) then picked up his third win in relief allowing just one hit and striking out three in the ninth. Justin Ramirez led the Firestorm's offense going 1-for-3 with three RBIs.

This time it was the Thunderbirds who broke through first on a solo home run to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. They would then strike for three more in the third to take a 4-0. The Firestorm slowly dug themselves out of the hole as they pulled a run back in the bottom half of the third on a sac fly by Kurtis Roberts to make it 4-1. Roberts then made it 4-2 in the fifth inning as he lined an RBI double over head of the third baseman. The Firestorm would then load the bases with nobody out in the sixth. Manny Villa then worked a walk to drive in a run before Damien McElroy delivered an RBI groundout to tie the game 4-4.

The Firestorm bullpen did a great job of shutting down the Thunderbirds as Eli Elliot pitched four innings allowing four hits and striking out seven while Chase Martinez pitched one inning while allowing no hits  and striking out one as the game headed to the bottom of the eighth tied 4-4. The Firestorm would then take the lead as Manny Villa delivered an RBI single to make it 5-4. The Firestorm would then load the bases with two outs with Caleb Beach working a bases loaded walk to make it 6-4. The Firestorm would then blow the game open as Justin Ramirez who had been hitless all day crushed a bases clearing double to left field to make it 9-4. Ramirez would then come home on an error to make it 10-4. Tarver would then enter the game in the ninth and strikeout the side after allowing a hit as the Firestorm swept the double header.

Inside the Box Score:

Ramirez: 1-for-3, 3 RBIs

Villa: 1-for-3, 2 RBIs

Roberts: 1-for-2, 2 RBIs

McElroy: 0-for-3, RBI

Beach: 0-for-1, RBI

Thoughts from Coach:

After the game Head Coach Joe McDonald stated, "Today was a great day at the yard with a bunch of different players stepping up in big situations and once again we were able to overcome some adversity with some big pitching and timely hitting. We did it together as a team and we will continue to work hard next week and grow."

Up Next:

The Firestorm continue play next week with the Firestorm Invitational beginning on Thursday, February 10th as they take on Oregon Institute of Technology at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe, AZ at 1:00 PM Arizona Time.