Phoenix, Ariz. - The Firestorm demonstrated why their offense is one of the NAIA's best (7th in RBI, 19th in SLG) on Thursday night, smashing a program-record seven home runs in a 22-4 win over SAGU American Indian College. A total of seven players hit safely, 11 of their 17 hits going for extra bases which ties a season-best done on two other occasions.

Marques Titialii maximized every at-bat, ripping three home runs (tied Jaylen Edmonds' all-time mark) that scored a total of six runs. His final long ball of the evening was his 18th of the season, equaling his own single-season program record set in 2023.

Deshon Thomas' four hits matched a feat accomplished twice this season by Edmonds, his outing highlighted by the team's third grand slam of the season in the ninth inning.

Kane Kiaunis also had four hits to his credit, two of them being solo home runs. The third baseman's seven at-bats tied the program record for most plate appearances in a single game (Andrew Ivy, Justin Ramirez both did so against The Master's on May 2, 2023).

Trey Tarver was the first to see his ball leave the park, a solo home run later complemented by an RBI-single. Both Jared Anderson and Matthew Beckworth struck gold with extra-base hits, Anderson tallying the Firestorm's lone triple (his third of 2024).

Junior Eastyn Culp pocketed his fourth win (4-0) in his first season with ACU, ringing up six Warrior batters in five complete innings.   

GAME INFO

Score: RV Arizona Christian 22 | SAGU American Indian College 4
Records: RV ACU 25-16 (12-9 GSAC) | SAGU AIC 7-28
Location: Thunderbird High School - Phoenix, AZ

STAT TRACKER

Marques Titialii - 3 hits, 6 RBI, 3 home runs
Deshon Thomas - 4 hits, 5 RBI, 1 home run
Kane Kiaunis - 4 hits, 3 RBI, 2 home runs
Trey Tarver - 2 hits, 2 RBI, 1 home run
Jared Anderson - 2 hits, 1 RBI, 2 extra-bases
Matthew Beckworth - 1 hit, 1 RBI, 1 double
Dylan Petersen - 1 hit, 1 RBI, 1 run
Eastyn Culp - 5.0 IP, 2 RA, 6 K

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

After Titialii hit into a double play, Tarver and Kiaunis lit up starting Warrior's pitcher Konner Chacen-Herbison with back-to-back home runs. Culp allowed one hit (Kaysen Kajiwara) but retained the Firestorm's 2-0 lead through the first. 

Doubles by Beckworth and Thomas brought two more runs through home plate. With Thomas on second, Titialii unleashed his first of three home runs for a four-run second inning. Culp's second time on the mound resulted in a one, two, three retirement of SAGU AIC. 

Sean Garcia joined the scoring barrage with a sacrifice fly in the third that gave the go-ahead to Kiaunis. The Warriors got on the board their third time up, Manuel Frias-Moreno converting a single into two runs to cap off a three-hit inning.

ACU would reach 11 runs in the fourth frame, capitalizing on two hits and an error to score another four runs. Culp, for the second time in the game, retired the Warrior's side in order. 

The vibes surrounding Thomas and Titialii were palpable, as a Thomas base-hit was once again followed by a Titialii two-run shot. A batter separating the two, Kiaunis recorded his second home run of the ball game to give the Firestorm a 14-2 advantage through five complete innings, as SAGU AIC could not respond with a hit.

For the first time all night, ACU went hitless ("three up, three down") and the SAGU AIC doubled their run total with a two-run home run from Edward Aceves.
 
Like top-charting pop song, Thomas and Titialii repeated history a third time. Thomas led off the seventh with a single and Titialii's ball went the distance for an incredible third two-run home run.

No runs would come home in the eighth, the grand finale saved for the end. The right fielder Anderson led off the ninth with a triple, and, by the time Thomas stepped up to the plate, the bases were loaded even after two runs had scored. Thomas launched a ball high in the air and its disappearance over the back fence signaled a grand slam.

Jackson Hohensee was given the honor of finishing out the game on the bump, the right-hander stingy as only three Warriors saw a pitch.  

NEXT FOR THE FIRESTORM

The Arizona Christian Firestorm will see the SAGU American Indian College Warriors (7-28) for the second time this week, a double header set for Saturday afternoon at Greenway High School. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 PM, the second game to begin 30 minutes after Game 1's final out is recorded. Don't miss a single play with live stats at https://acufirestorm.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary and watch the broadcast at https://www.gsacsportsnetwork.com/azchristian/.
    
                          
Roll Storm!