Lewiston, Idaho - Dominant only scratches the surface of the Firestorm's 11-0 shutout and upset win over one-seed and #5 Lewis-Clark State on Tuesday afternoon. Adrian Santa Cruz hit several milestones on his way to a 12-strikeout complete game and the unstoppable ACU offense was led by Marques Titialii's 4-for-4 masterpiece. The Firestorm are in the driver's seat of the Lewiston Bracket, as one more win tomorrow night equates to a trip to the 2024 NAIA World Series, presented by Avista (May 24-31).
Besides setting Arizona Christian up for a title game, Joe McDonald officially led ACU Baseball to its first multi-win performance in the NAIA Opening Round. The underdog Firestorm also had the honor of blanking the host Warriors for the first time this 2024 season.
Santa Cruz issued a mind-boggling 134 pitches and his 12 strikeouts was a career high. A potentially legacy-defining start also ushered in a new single-season strikeout record, the Phoenix product passing fellow teammate Eli Elliott's mark (99) with his 100th punch out in the ninth frame.
Titialii did it all for the Firestorm, the dynamic left fielder delivering four runs on four hits. His day was highlighted by a two-run home run in the fifth inning (23rd this season) that essentially put the nail in the Warrior coffin. More significance was buried in the Seattle native's latest, his hit streak upped to 15 (T-2nd longest in program history) and his season hit total increased to 81 (T-2nd in program history).
Andrew Ivy pieced together another gem, two hits resulting in two runs on the base pads. Third baseman Kane Kiaunis exhibited the shortest memory on the team, as he followed up a disappointing effort on Monday (0-for-5) with a two-hit, two-RBI showing.
Sean Garcia was the third with two hits (his 14th multi-hit this season) and Troy Collins unleashed his eighth home run of 2024 just three batters before Titialii (also a two-run shot).
GAME INFO
Score: RV Arizona Christian 11 | #5 Lewis-Clark State 0
Records: RV ACU 35-19 | #5 LCSC 38-12
Location: Harris Field - Lewiston, ID
STAT TRACKER
Marques Titialii - 4 hits, 4 RBI, 1 home run
Andrew Ivy - 2 hits, 1 RBI, 2 runs
Kane Kiaunis - 2 hits, 2 RBI
Sean Garcia - 2 hits, 1 run
Troy Collins - 1 hit, 2 RBI, 1 home run
Trey Tarver - 1 hit, 1 RBI, 1 run
Jaylen Edmonds - 1 hit, 1 run
Matthew Beckworth - 2 runs
Jared Anderson - 1 RBI
Adrian Santa Cruz - 9.0 IP, 0 RA, 12 K
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Santa Cruz was put in the pressure-cooker early despite his final statline, the first two Lewis-Clark State batters (Carter Booth and Nick Seamons) reaching safely. His first strikeout and a 6, 4, 3 double play got the ACU defense out of a jam. Titialii extended his hit streak to 15 games with a nine-pitch single but a double play ended the Firestorm's first threat to score.
Santa Cruz hinted at something special with a three-strikeout second inning, stranding the Warrior's third base runner of the contest at second. Kiaunis' lead-off single in the second was met with the same fate as Titialii, as the junior was left on following three consecutive Firestorm retirements.
The third began with Santa Cruz's third straight punch out and two proceeding lineouts sat the LCSC side down in order. ACU demonstrated its depth and relentless nature, as the first five batters of the third inning reached and brought in three runs. After Tarver's full-count double completed the hitting tear, Warrior starter Drake George was pulled. The reliever Jace Hanson was able to collect the necessary three outs, but not before two sacrifice plays (Kiaunis, Anderson) produced two more runs for a 5-0 Firestorm lead.
For the second inning of the game, Santa Cruz registered three strikeouts and had retired eight straight Warriors once through the fourth. Pitching woes persisted for LCSC, as Hanson and a second reliever Jantzen Lucas combined to hit three ACU batters and send two runs through home plate. The pair of runs came despite eight Firestorm going hitless in the inning.
An unconventional 1, 4, 3 double play erased a Santa Cruz lead-off hit by pitch (Brandon Cabrera) and a following groundout meant the Firestorm defense's third time denying extra Warrior plate appearances. Lucas soon paid for his third hit batter (Garcia), the catcher Collins making pure contact and launching one over the left-field fence for a two-run home run. Titialii would not be outdone and matched Collins with a two-run shot with two outs on the board.
Tarver made a great hustle play from behind first base to secure the second force out of the sixth. Seamons then doubled, for LCSC's first extra-base knock of the afternoon. Santa Cruz would have nothing to do with that, however, and closed the door on yet another inning with his ninth strikeout. Two Firestorm singles (Kiaunis, Garcia) were silenced in the sixth and an 11-0 advantage would remain idle.
The first out of the seventh signaled Santa Cruz's longest start of the season (6.0 IP was done twice previously). His 10th punch out ensured the Warriors' fourth "three up, three down" outing. Titialii put the finishing touches on a perfect day with a double off the left-center wall but would be stranded for the second time in the game.
Though ACU committed their second error of the Opening Round, Santa Cruz was able to retire the next three batters. Kiaunis (hit by pitch) and Garcia (single) reached safely in the Firestorm eighth but could not do any further damage.
As no one dared to warm up in the Firestorm bullpen, Santa Cruz survived two walks in the ninth and successfully threw a complete game shutout. He was the beneficiary of an amazing 5-3 putout from Kiaunis and etched his name in the ACU Baseball record books with his 100th strikeout being the 26th of the ball game.
THOUGHTS FROM COACH JOE MCDONALD
"Amazing game today with Santa Cruz going CG shutout," Coach McDonald said. "Our offense continues to stay disciplined and defense was solid again. I love this team!"
NEXT FOR THE FIRESTORM
Arizona Christian will await the winner of Game 7 (British Columbia vs. Lewis-Clark State at 2:30 PM) for a potential Opening Round championship game tomorrow night at 6:00 PM. A 3-0 sweep in the Lewiston Bracket would mean a bid to the 2024 NAIA World Series (May 24-31). A Firestorm loss would mean an all-or-nothing game (rematch of Game 8) on Thursday at 12:00 PM. Don't miss a moment of the action with live video at https://lcwarriors.com/watch/ and live stats (link will be available pending Game 7 results).
Roll Storm!
