Glendale, Ariz. - The Firestorm found themselves in the largest hole all season (8-1 in the second inning) but slowly chipped away and delivered a thrilling 10-9 come-from-behind home victory on Senior Day. Joe McDonald's club never panicked and saw the winning path come into focus with each and every pitch and at-bat. Such patience produced Arizona Christian's 21st home win of the 2024 season, closing with a 21-9 record at Greenway High School and season sweep of Park Gilbert.

Roughly thirty minutes prior to the game's first pitch, the following eight seniors were honored for their many contributions to the ACU Baseball family: Deshon Thomas, Eli Elliott, Marques Titialii, Adrian Santa Cruz, Evan Hieb, Riley Quinton, Mackenzie Salmon and Troy Collins.

Titialii pieced together quite the Senior-Night performance, recording a season-high four hits (4-for-5) and scoring three runs. The senior outfielder's second double of the night gave him sole possession of second for most career doubles (38) in program history. Notably, Titialii pulled off the amazing feat of stealing home in the fourth inning.

Sean Garcia's latest plate performance, 2-for-3, vaulted him to a team-best .365 batting average on the season. A second-inning double was his 15th of the year, ranking second on the Firestorm (16, Jared Anderson) and fifth in the GSAC.

Three other players hit once each and shortstop Matthew Beckworth scored two runs on the base pads.

Hieb made his fourth start of his Firestorm career and saw one inning of action before a slew (seven) relievers came in to finish out the 2024 home finale. Sean Wiese fell into his first pitching decision of the year, and came away with the win after managing the whole sixth inning.

GAME INFO

Score: RV Arizona Christian 10 | Park Gilbert 9
Records: RV ACU 31-17 (14-10 GSAC) | PARK 22-24 (10-10 Cal Pac)
Location: Greenway High School - Glendale, AZ

STAT TRACKER

Marques Titialii - 4 hits, 3 runs, 2 doubles
Sean Garcia - 2 hits, 1 run, 1 double
Trey Tarver - 1 hit, 1 RBI, 1 run
Jared Anderson - 1 hit,  1 run
Jaylen Edmonds - 1 hit
Matthew Beckworth - 1 RBI, 2 runs
Riley Quinton - 1 RBI, 1 run
Troy Collins - 1 RBI
Tanner Vielguth - 1 RBI
Evan Hieb - 1.0 IP, 2 RA

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

Despite Hieb working two quick flyouts in the first, the Park Gilbert Buccaneers saw two runs score on four consecutive hits. Gino Caperon converted the first run (Andrew Allanson) with a double and Diego Bejarano sent Caperon in on a single. Titialii began a scorching hot day at the plate with a single and eventually would score on a Collins' sacrifice fly to center field.

Salmon was given the ball in the second, and two opening walks spelled trouble. Sure enough, the Buccaneers' Caleb Rozier cleared the bases with a three-run home run. Though Salmon secured the inning's first out soon after, another single and walk set up Bejarano who pounced on a pitch left over the plate and paid off another three-run bomb. Chay Esqueda entered the fray and struck out two batters to end the damage at six.

Now officially trailing by the most all season (8-1), ACU remained patient and reeled off three runs in their next at-bat. A combination of hit batters, wild pitches and a Garcia double got the Firestorm right back in the ball game.

Esqueda helped produce a "three up, three down" third (two punch outs) before third baseman Quinton advanced Beckworth through home with a ground out and cut the deficit to three (8-5).

A clutch strikeout from Esqueda (his sixth of the night) blanked Park Gilbert for the second straight inning. Titialii then led off the fourth with a blistered double to left field. After stealing third, Titialii made the gutsy decision to attempt a steal of home with two outs on the board. The pitcher-catcher duo of Eduardo Crosby and Cole Sneed were positively aloof to his start and were too late, as Titialii successfully stole a run.

After a scoreless fifth, Wiese only required seven offerings to earn three outs in the sixth. The Firestorm took their first lead of the night in the sixth, capitalizing on a lead-off error with three hits and four runs. Trey Tarver's single was the only hit to land an RBI (Thomas), whereas a walk, hit by pitch and passed ball sent the final three through home.

Jackson Hohensee was tasked with getting the final three outs, having a 10-8 lead in his back pocket. Two lead-off singles (Nick Miller, Jesh Leckey) and a fielder's choice put the Buccaneers in scoring position with only one out recorded. A third single converted Miller into a run, and the lead was one. Hohensee certainly felt the home crowd love and locked in to strike out the next two batters and collected his first save of the season.

THOUGHTS FROM COACH JOE MCDONALD

"Tonight was a special night honoring eight amazing young men," Coach McDonald said. "We did a really good job after getting down big early, just chipping away and believing and making things happen. It's always nice when you can come out with a win on senior night."

NEXT FOR THE FIRESTORM

Arizona Christian will head north to Prescott for their regular-season finale on Wednesday afternoon against Embry-Riddle (AZ) (26-17, 14-7 Cal Pac). The Firestorm seek to avenge a 7-6 home loss (April 2) and even the season series with the Eagles. First pitch from Eagle Baseball Field is scheduled for 3:00 PM. Don't miss a single play with live stats at https://www.eraueagles.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/boxscores/20240424_bi4g.xml and watch the broadcast at https://www.eraueagles.com/links/crbys3.  
    
                          
Roll Storm!