Glendale, Ariz. - Arizona Christian gave up four home runs and two big innings to the visiting #13 MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers  in a 17-6 loss to cap the 5th Annual Coach Calderone Invitational. The Firestorm shrunk a 8-0 deficit to three in the sixth inning (9-6) before MNU spotted them eight runs in the seventh to effectively put the game away.

Senior Adrian Santa Cruz struggled in his first start on the mound for ACU, surrendering eight runs in 2.1 innings on 73 pitches. It became a bullpen show for the rest of the ball game, as seven Firestorm relievers needed 156 offerings to finish out a 3 hour and 45-minute marathon. 

Of ACU's 11 hits, Jaylen Edmonds stood out with two hits and two RBIs (6-of-11 to start his Firestorm career). 

GAME INFO

Score: Arizona Christian 6 | #13 MidAmerica Nazarene 17
Records: ACU 2-0 (0-0 GSAC) | #13 MNU 1-1 (0-0 Heart)
Location: Greenway High School - Glendale, AZ

STAT TRACKER 

Troy Collins - 2 hits, 1 run
Jaylen Edmonds - 2 hits, 2 RBIs, 1 run
Trey Tarver - 2 hits, 1 run
Kane Kiaunis - 1 hit, 1 RBI, 1 run
Ryan Eastham - 1 hit, 1 double
Eastyn Culp - 2.0 IP, 1 HA, 5 strikeouts (2nd reliever)

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE 

MidAmerica Nazarene blew the doors down early in this one, as third baseman Dio Cornet smashed a grand slam to left center. Though Santa Cruz and the Firestorm defense limited the damage to four runs, the offense did not cooperate. The first three ACU batters were all struck out looking by MNU starting pitcher Zach Trevino.

The second stanza seemed more promising (Santa Cruz forced a ground out bunt), the Pioneers replied with a walk and second home run, this time off the bat of Brycen Sherwood. Sean Garcia and Tarver provided some hope with hard-hit singles, but a scoring opportunity fizzled out on a Kiaunis strikeout.

For the third consecutive inning, MNU went yard, this instance off the bat Brysen Hamilton. Quickly down 8-0, Frank Wierman replaced Santa Cruz and managed to get out of the inning by way of a ground out and strikeout. Scoring would have to wait a while longer, but ACU produced its first zero-run defensive stand in the top of the fourth.

A bit of fortune and bats waking up got the Firestorm back on track in the bottom half of the fourth. A fielding error by MNU sent Tarver home after he led off with a single. The third hit of the inning by Edmonds delivered two more runs (Justin Colon and Collins). Though the latest Firestorm pitcher, Eastyn Culp, added another Pioneer run in the fifth, the tide was turning.

Down 9-3 in the bottom of the sixth, Ryan Eastham ripped a double down the left-field line in the lead-off position. Kiaunis knocked in a run (Colon) and later scored on a passed ball. After getting aboard with a single, Edmonds made the score 9-6 by means of a wild pitch from Ryan Wilwers, the first MNU reliever of the night.

Though right back in it, the seventh inning would be a back-breaker. A total of 12 batters got an opportunity at the plate, as the Pioneers scored eight runs on six hits. Three Firestorm pitchers saw action in the inning (Chay Esqueda, Christian Lucero, Evan Hieb). Drew Woodley cashed in MNU's fourth home run to solidify an 11-run lead.

The Firestorm recorded two more hits in the contest, highlighted by Dylan Petersen's double in his only at-bat of the game. Payton Robertson and Rocky King combined for 37 pitches, three strikeouts and one hit allowed in the final act. 

THOUGHTS FROM COACH JOE MCDONALD

"I really like the way that we fought back to give ourselves a chance after being down with a big deficit," Coach McDonald said. "Tonight things didn't go our way and we will learn to grow from this."

NEXT FOR THE FIRESTORM

The Firestorm move on from one tournament to another, as they will step into the second ever NAIA Ball East West Challenge. Their first of four games at Greenway High School begins  January 31st against #7 Bellevue. Opening pitch is set for 6:00 PM. Follow the action with live stats at https://acufirestorm.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary and watch the game at https://www.gsacsportsnetwork.com/azchristian. 
    
                          
Roll Storm!