Glendale, Ariz.- In game one on Friday, ACU broke a late tie to win the afternoon opener against Vanguard.  Down 4-0 in game two, the Firestorm fought back to create a walk-off win against the Lions.  Savannah Smith threw a complete game one and then earned the win in game two as well.
 
Game Info

• Game one score: Arizona Christian- 3, Vanguard- 1
• Game two score: Arizona Christian- 5, Vanguard- 4
• Records: Arizona Christian- 21-6, 5-1 GSAC, Vanguard- 11-10, 2-3 GSAC
• NAIA Top 25 ranking: Arizona Christian- RV, Vanguard- RV
• Location: ACU Softball Field, Arizona Christian University, Glendale, AZ

 
ACU Game One Stats

• Jyden Miles- 3-3, run
• Neeley Bell- 1-3, RBI
• Miranda Hipolito- 1-3, 2B, RBI
• Taylor Schleisman- 1-3, run
• Kaitlyn Anderson- 1-2, 2B, BB
• Claire Buckley- 1-4, 2B, run
• Smith- 7 IP, CG win, 5 K

 
Inside Game One

• In the second, Hipolito doubled home Schleisman for a 1-0 lead
• Anderson just missed a home run as her double bounced off the protective plastic atop the left fence
• Vanguard used a single, stolen base, single to tie the score at one in the top of the fifth
• In the bottom of the fifth, Buckley doubled and Miles singled/stole second ahead of an RBI groundout by Taylor Alto and Bell RBI single
• Smith did not allow a base runner in the final two innings

 
ACU Game Two Stats

• Anderson- 1-3, 2B, 3 RBI
• Ryann Reese- 2-2, run
• Hipolito- 2-3, run
• Buckley- 2-4
• Bell- 2-4
• Abbi Covalt- 1-2, RBI
• Hailey Jackson- 1.1 IP, no runs
• Smith- 1 IP, no runs, 3 K

 
Inside Game Two

• The Lions scored two in the top of the first
• The Lions took a 4-0 lead with two runs in the fifth
• Three straight singles from Reese, Buckley, and Miles in the fifth loaded the bases before Alto sent a sac fly to center to get ACU on the board
• In the sixth, Schleisman and Hipolito singled, Covalt was hit by a pitch, and Anderson doubled down the left field line to clear the bases and tie the score
• Smith struck out the side in the top of the seventh to set up the dramatic finish
• Bell singled (Kaitlin Terzakos pinch ran), Schleisman walked, and Covalt singled up the middle to score Terzakos for the walk-off

 
Thoughts from Coach Mayben
"These were important games in GSAC play. There is a lot of parody in our conference and getting two wins against a very good Vanguard team at home was important in the big picture. It was a complete team effort today."
 
Up Next
On Saturday, Arizona Christian will host Hope International with first pitch coming at 12:00 pm.