Waddell, AZ – The Arizona Christian University baseball team (26-21, 13-16) continued their four game series against Menlo (13-24-1, 7-19) with a doubleheader sweep as they won the first game in a shutout 4-0 and prevailed 15-14 in a wild shootout in the second one on Friday afternoon at Canyon View High School in Waddell, AZ

Series Notes:

With the sweep the Firestorm improve their record against the Oaks to 8-12.

Game 1:

Eli Elliott (5-1) got the start and picked up his fifth win of the season as he threw a complete game shutout pitching a three hitter over 7 innings while striking out nine and walking one. Manny Villa led the Firestorm's offense going 2-for-3 with 2 RBI and one home run.

After two and half scoreless frames the Firestorm opened the scoring in the bottom of the third inning. With two on and out Manny Villa ripped a single into left field to put the Firestorm ahead 1-0. Robby Campillo then delivered a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0. As Elliott continued to dazzle on the mound the Firestorm added to their lead as Kurtis Roberts delivered a one out RBI single up the middle to make it 3-0 in the fourth. Then in the fifth Villa crushed a home run to left field to put the Firestorm on top 4-0.

Meanwhile on the mound Elliott cruised into the seventh inning before running into some trouble as the Oaks loaded the bases with one out. Elliot was not to be stopped though as he struck out the final two batters to help lead the Firestorm to a 4-0 victory.

Inside the Box Score:

Villa: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, HR

Roberts: 1-for-3, RBI

Campillo: 0-for-2, RBI

Game 2:

Trey Tarver got the start and pitched 3 1/3 innings allowing seven runs, six earned on eight hits while striking out five. Jordan Vickers (2-2) picked up the win in relief pitching 2 1/3 innings allowing three runs, one earned on five hits while walking two and striking out two. Chase Martinez picked up his first save of the year as he allowed just one hit while walking one and striking out one in 1 inning pitched. Daniel Durazo and Troy Collins led the Firestorm's offense with three RBIs and one home run each.

This time it was the Oaks who got on the board first as they took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. That lead wouldn't last long as the Firestorm rallied in the bottom half of the inning. Justin Ramirez would single to lead off the inning and then score on a wild pitch to make it 3-1. Then after a single and two walks loaded the bases with no outs the Firestorm cut the Oaks lead to 3-2 on a fielder's choice by Sean Garcia. Marques Titialli then followed with another fielder's choice to tie the game 3-3.

After a scoreless second it was the Oaks turn to respond as they retook the lead at 4-3 on a two out RBI single. The Firestorm though would once again respond in the bottom half as they put a big number. After Manny Villa reached on an error to lead off the inning Robby Campillo followed with a blast to left field to put the Firestorm back on top 5-4. The Firestorm weren't done though as Troy Collins crushed a two out two run home run to left field to extend the Firestorm lead to 7-4. Then after back to back singles Daniel Durazo lined a home run over the right field wall to give the Firestorm a 10-4 lead.

The Oaks would come roaring back in the top of the fourth inning as they put up nine runs to retake the lead at 13-10. The Firestorm weren't deterred though as they pulled a run back on a two out RBI single by Collins to make it 13-11. The Oaks would scratch across another run in the fifth to extend their lead back to three at 14-11. For every score the Oaks had the Firestorm had an answer as they hit back in the bottom half of the inning. The Firestorm started the inning by loading the bases with nobody out then Oliver Frias stepped and delivered an RBI single through the left side to make it 14-12. Then Ramirez would score on a wild pitch to make it 14-13. Riley Quinton then stepped to the plate and lined a single into right field to put the Firestorm back ahead 15-14.

After a scoreless sixth Martinez entered the game looking for the save. After getting the first out he ran into some trouble as the Oaks loaded the bases as they looked to tie the game. Martinez stepped up big as he struck out the next Oaks batter and then got the final out on a flyball to right as the Firestorm emerged victory in a thrilling 15-14 game.

Inside the Box Score:

Durazo: 3-for-5, 3 RBI, HR

Collins: 2-for-3, 3 RBI, HR

Campillo: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, HR

Quinton: 1-for-3, 2 RBI

Frias: 1-for-3, RBI

Garcia: 1-for-4, RBI

Titialli: 0-for-3, RBI

Up Next:

The Firestorm wrap up their four-game series against Menlo on Saturday, April 9 at 10:30am Arizona time at Canyon View High School in Waddell, AZ.