Costa Mesa, Calif.- The ACU pitching staff allowed just two runs and Claire Buckley did what Buckley does as Arizona Christian split with No. 22 Vanguard on Friday.

Game Info

• Game one score: Vanguard - 2, Arizona Christian - 1
• Game two score: Arizona Christian - 2, Vanguard - 0
• Records: Arizona Christian - 18-9, 4-2 GSAC, Vanguard - 28-8, 3-3 GSAC
• NAIA Top 25 ranking: Arizona Christian - not ranked, Vanguard - 22
• Location: Vanguard Softball Field, Vanguard University, Costa Mesa, CA

ACU Game One Stats

• Buckley - 1-3, 2B, RBI
• Taylor Schleisman - 1-3
• Taylor Alto - 1-3
• Monique Zarate - 1-1
• Joelle Dowdy - Run
• Savannah Smith - complete game

Inside Game One

• A Schleisman single was the only base runner for either team in the first two innings
• Zarate led off the top of the third with a single, Dowdy pinch ran, and Buckley doubled to the right center gap to score Dowdy
• The Firestorm did not have another base runner until Alto singled to start the seventh inning
• In the circle, Smith retired the first nine batters in order and 15 of the first 17 Vanguard hitters
• The Lions scored their only two runs on an error, two sac bunts, and two singles in the sixth
• ACU left the tying run on first at game's end

ACU Game Two Stats

• Buckley - 1-3, HR, 2 runs, RBI
• Jyden Miles - 2-4
• Schleisman - 1-3, RBI
• Kaitlyn Anderson - 2-4
• Allie Fryklund - 6.2 innings, no runs, win
• Smith - save

Inside Game Two

• Buckley smashed her GSAC topping tenth home run of the season leading off game two
• In the fifth, Buckley singled, stole second, and scored on a Schleisman RBI single to push across an insurance
• After allowing two base runners in the first, Fryklund was dealing as she did not allow more than a single base runner per inning the rest of the way
• With a runner at third and the tying run at the plate, Smith was summoned to get the final out and she induced a groundout for the save
• Sixteen of the 21 outs recorded by Fryklund/Smith were groundouts/fielder's choice grounders
• After stats from across the GSAC were reported on Friday, Buckley tops the GSAC in average, home runs, and RBI

Thoughts from Coach Mayben

"Claire came up clutch for our offense today.  Both Savannah and Allie pitched great games today."

Up Next

On Saturday, the Firestorm have their work cut for them as they face Hope International and the GSAC's leader in ERA and strikeouts.The doubleheader start time is slated for 12:00 pm at Bastanchury Park.