Glendale, Ariz. - Arizona Christian was firing on all cylinders on Thursday night, amassing season highs in runs (21) and hits (20) en-route to a shutout victory over the Bethesda Lion Angels. An astounding four Firestorm players recorded three hits and 11 of 20 hits went for extra bases (nine was the previous best against Park Gilbert on February 27th). The 21-run total tied for third-most in ACU Baseball history.

Marques Titialii and Kane Kiaunis stacked up their RBI totals, producing five and four respectively. Trey Tarver and Troy Collins each knocked in two runs, combining for three of ACU's seven doubles. 

Though he did not convert any of his three hits into an RBI, Andrew Ivy accomplished something much greater. He broke the program's all-time hitting streak record (20, Robert Bostedt) by hitting safely in his 21st consecutive game.

Jared Anderson, who owns a six-game hitting streak himself, smacked one of two triples (Matthew Beckworth with the other).

Adrian Santa Cruz threw for his sixth win of 2024 and 10th win of his Firestorm career, ringing up 10 batters and only allowing two hits.

GAME INFO

Score: RV Arizona Christian 21 | Bethesda 0
Records: RV ACU 19-14 (10-8 GSAC) | BU 5-24 (0-0 SWS)
Location: Greenway High School - Glendale, AZ

STAT TRACKER

Marques Titialii - 3 hits, 5 RBI, 1 home run 
Kane Kiaunis - 3 hits, 4 RBI, 1 home run
Trey Tarver - 3 hits, 2 RBI, 1 double
Andrew Ivy - 3 hits, 4 runs
Troy Collins - 2 hits, 2 RBI, 2 doubles
Sean Garcia - 1 hit, 2 RBI, 1 double
Jared Anderson - 1 hit, 1 run, 1 triple
Matthew Beckworth - 1 hit, 1 RBI, 1 triple
Adrian Santa Cruz - 5.0 IP, 0 RA, 10 K

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

Santa Cruz punched out two Lion Angels before the Firestorm struck quickly in the first. Titialii followed up an Ivy single with a two-run shot to left field. Two additional singles (Tarver, Kiaunis) and a throwing error made for a three-run opener.

Jared Burgess registered Bethesda's first hit of the ball game with two outs on the board. ACU then scored four runs in the second on only one hit (Kiaunis double), the beneficiaries of five wild pitches and an error.

The Lion Angels went down in order in the third frame (two Santa Cruz strikeouts). Justin Colon and Ivy led off the third with singles before Titialii sent both of them home, doubling through the left gap. A Tarver double and eventual throwing error tallied two more runs to make it 11-0.

Burgess also produced Bethesda's second hit, but three runners would be stranded by Santa Cruz. Noah DeLuca and Ivy got the party started in the fourth with singles and Kiaunis did not hold back with a three-run home run (his seventh this season) to cap another four-run inning.

Santa Cruz closed out what would end up being his final inning with his 10th strikeout of the night. One run came in for the Firestorm (Collins) in the fifth because of a Garcia groundout.

Christian Lucero relieved Santa Cruz and retired the Lion Angels in order. Titialii and Beckworth would bookend a third four-run inning for the Firestorm to push the lead to 20-0.

ACU would not score in the seventh but Garcia tacked on their 21st run in the eighth with an RBI-double.

NEXT FOR THE FIRESTORM

The Arizona Christian Firestorm will make the short trip to Thunderbird High School for a split double header on Good Friday. A second game with Bethesda (5-24) will lead off at 12:00 PM and ACU will cap off Week 10 at 3:30 PM with SAGU American Indian College (7-21). Live stats and video will not be available for either game. 
    
                          
Roll Storm!