After starting the year off 4-0 ACU baseball is off to Florida for a tough four game set. The Firestorm will be playing four different top 25 NAIA teams. They fly out as a team Tuesday and play their first game in Lakeland, Florida against the number one team in the nation, the reigning NAIA Baseball National Champions, Southeastern University. The Firestorm have a player that was on Southeastern last year, shortstop Enrique Porchas. After the first game in Lakeland, the team will then travel to Lake Myrtle, Florida, for a game Thursday against
#25 Keiser University. Then on Friday the Firestorm will play #8 St. Thomas University. Then finally on Saturday February 4 th it will be ACU again in Lake Myrtle vs #4 LSU Shreveport.

It was a fantastic weekend starting off the season for Coach McDonald's squad, winning all four games. What mainly lead to this dominant start was 53 runs scored by
the ACU offense in four games. The offense was supported by the starting rotation with the starters limiting the opposing offenses. Each of the first four starters got the win.

The keys to victory in Florida against these ranked teams will be as follows. First, that the offense continues to give the starting pitchers early leads. Secondly, that the starting pitchers continue to get ahead in counts and give their offense early at bats to get the lead. The third key to victory is one that the team struggled on in their first three games. ACU baseball has no room to struggle in this field in Florida against these ranked teams. This field being the Bullpen. Relievers in the first four games struggled with getting ahead of batters and not giving up walks. Even though dual player Riley Quintin got his first save, the team appears to still be going with a closer by committee style for the bullpen. From the rotation it will be critical at this point of the young season for who the ace is. Adrian Santa Cruz started off the season starting game one, but of the four starters, Eli Elliott pitched the best game.

For the offense going into Florida, after Justin Ramirez got named the NAIA player of the week, it will be important for someone else in the lineup to support Ramirez. Marques Titialli did it in week one with his power, and so did Daniel Durazo. Who else in the lineup will impress and help the Firestorm lineup get some wins against these ranked opponents? And other questions go like 'Will the rotation continue to get ahead in counts and throw strikes?' And the last question for the Florida games is 'will the ACU bullpen be able to limit walks?'

These Florida games are a very critical step for this ball club's early success and status this season. Prayers to the team as they travel to Florida for safe travel is much appreciated. Roll Storm!