Fullerton, Calif. - Lack-luster offense in the opening game was remedied in the second, as Arizona Christian split a Friday-night double header with #11 Hope International. After being shut out for the first time this season (4-0), the Firestorm rebounded with a gritty 5-2 win in the nightcap to even the weekend series at 1-1.
Jaylen Edmonds, the lead-off man in both games, led ACU with three total hits and one RBI. Trey Tarver followed with two of the Firestorm's nine combined hits and also closed out Game 2 on the mound with three strikeouts.
Andrew Ivy recorded two extra-base hits in the double header, featuring a triple in the seventh inning of Game 2 that eventually produced ACU's fifth and final run.
Game 1 starter Eli Elliott tied his career-best 11 strikeouts, but allowed seven hits and four runs (both equalling season-highs). Jackson Hohensee made his fifth start in Game 2, and picked up his third win of 2024 despite four walks.
GAME INFO
Score 1: RV Arizona Christian 0 | #11 Hope International 4
Score 2: RV Arizona Christian 5 | #11 Hope International 2
Records: RV ACU 14-9 (7-4 GSAC) | #11 HIU 12-9 (5-3 GSAC)
Location: Duane Winters Field - Fullerton, CA
STAT TRACKER (GAME 1 & 2)
Jaylen Edmonds - 3 hits, 1 RBI, 2 runs, 1 double
Trey Tarver - 2 hits, 1 double
Deshon Thomas - 1 hit, 1 RBI, 1 run
Andrew Ivy - 2 hits, 1 double, 1 triple
Noah DeLuca - 1 run
Jared Anderson - 1 sac fly, 1 RBI
Marques Titialii - 1 RBI
Eli Elliott - 6.0 IP, 4 RA, 11 K
Jackson Hohensee - 4.1 IP, 2 RA, 6 K
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE (GAME 1)
Offensive problems did not surface right away, as Tarver singled in the two hole to give the Firestorm at least a base runner in the first inning. Unable to score, the host Royals took advantage of an error by shortstop DeLuca. What should have been a second out instead transformed into two singles (JJ Cruz, Alec Arnone) and eventually an unearned run by Alex Moreno, who reached by error.
Both squads went down in order in the second frame, keeping the score 1-0 in favor of HIU. Edmonds became just ACU's second base runner in the third via a walk, but a Tarver strikeout capped that scoring chance. Elliott punched out the first Royals' batter in the third frame but was blitzed by a double, home run sequence (Moreno, Cruz). Another single succeeded this barrage but Elliott had enough, and struck out the next two batters to end the inning.
The Firestorm's offensive woes were now apparent, as they went "three up, three down" in consecutive innings. HIU's Moreno recorded his second hit and third run in the fifth inning, as Arnone batted him in with a single through the left gap.
Down 4-0, ACU loaded the bases in the sixth (Edmonds single, Marques Titialii and Kane Kiaunis both hit by pitch). A Jared Anderson strikeout would distinguish a potential flame. The Firestorm would strand four more in their scoreless outing.
Evan Hieb, despite relieving Elliott in a losing effort, pitched with incredible efficiency. He did not allow a single hit in 2.0 innings, offering 23 pitches and ringing up three batters.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE (GAME 2)
The night's second game was a bit kinder to the Firestorm. Edmonds led off with a double and benefitted from an HIU error, advancing him to third and freeing up first base for Anderson. Titialii grounded out to the shortstop (David Rivera) and scored the first ACU run of the series. The damage was left at one, Kiaunis and Troy Collins registering the inning's final two outs.
Hohensee's offerings were exploited early and often, as the Royals scored two runs on four singles in the opening frame. Dean Toigo knocked in two runs with the team's fourth single, only the fifth batter to step up to the plate.
Offense would practically disappear in the proceeding three innings, as the Firestorm were sat down in order in all three and the Royals' Seth Nelson was walked in the fourth to prevent the same fate.
It was in the fifth frame that ACU took a strangle-hold on the ball game. Deshon Thomas paid off DeLuca's walk with a single (first hit in his last 14 at-bats), and sent the shortstop home to tie the game at 2-2. Edmonds kept the momentum rolling with a single of his own. Thomas' decision to steal third was a difference maker, as a throwing error from first baseman Ryan Maciel empowered him to score the go-ahead run. Anderson completed a three-run burst by the Firestorm with a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Edmonds.
Chay Esqueda survived a high-stress relief situation, stranding two Royals with only one out on the board (strikeout, ground out). A lead-off double from Tarver was merely an extra-base hit, as the following three ACU hitters were retired and the score kept 4-1 through five and a half. Harrison Howell then forced three straight outs on only 15 pitches to maintain a three-run advantage heading into the seventh.
Ivy, who pinch hit for DeLuca, ripped a ball through the right side and worked the bases for a triple to begin the seventh. Edmonds sent in an insurance run for the Firestorm with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Tarver, no stranger to the closer's role, made sure there would be no dramatic finish by striking out HIU in order.
THOUGHTS FROM COACH JOE MCDONALD
"I am really proud of our bounce back win after losing Game 1," Coach McDonald said. "We were tough with two strikes, played good defense, had some great base running and pitching stepped up. I love our team!"
NEXT FOR THE FIRESTORM
The Arizona Christian Firestorm will attempt to win their third GSAC series of 2024 in tomorrow's finale with #11 Hope International. First pitch from Duane Winters Field will be thrown at 1:00 PM MST. Don't miss a single play with live stats at http://naiastats.prestosports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/boxscores/20240309_70g5.xml and watch the broadcast at
https://www.gsacsportsnetwork.com/azchristian/.
Roll Storm!
