Lewiston, Idaho - In a do-or-die elimination game, the Firestorm could not get out of their own way and lacked their usual offensive pop as the four-seed Hope International Royals defeated them 8-1 in Game 13 of the 2024 Avista NAIA World Series. A failed pickoff attempt in the fourth inning cleared the bases, as ACU's ace Eli Elliott watched a manageable 2-0 deficit upped to six. Unlike so many previous games this season, the Firestorm had no real response and their Red Banner hopes were dashed.

The Royals have now ousted the Firestorm from the postseason in three consecutive seasons, the two previous being in the GSAC Baseball Tournament. ACU finished their season series 1-3 against HIU, their offense being held to five or fewer runs in each contest.  

This final blemish aside, ACU Baseball enjoyed the most successful season in its 14-year history. At least 12 team records were set, including most wins (38), most home runs (99), most shutouts (9) and most RBI in a single season (512). Coach Joe McDonald led the Firestorm to their first ever Avista NAIA World Series (2-2 record) and his squad earned 18 wins over teams either receiving votes or NAIA Top-25. 

Their unforgettable campaign featured two wins against top-five opponents in Lewiston, denying #5 Lewis-Clark State entry in the World Series for the first time since 1998 and upsetting #1 Southeastern in an 11-inning thriller in Game 7 of the World Series.

Though he went hitless in this one, Marques Titialii closed the World Series with four hits to tie the program record for most hits in a single season (Brent Smith 87 in 2019). The senior left fielder also smashed the single-season and career marks for slugging percentage, with .780 and .651 respectively. Titialii bettered his own single-season best of .706 in 2023 and Enrique Porchas' career effort of .644. The Seattle, Washington native broke or tied 12 program records in his three-year tenure with ACU Baseball.

Shortstop Matthew Beckworth was the bright spot in the ACU batting order, the eight man manufacturing three hits. The junior cranked his 11th double of the season (the team's lone extra-base knock) in the seventh frame, which led to the Firestorm's one run. 

Eli Elliott set the single-season record for pitching starts with his 17th of 2024 and officially stamped his name on the single-season strikeouts record (112) with five in 4.0 innings. A rather positive showing was marred by a failed pickoff attempt to third base which resulted in three unearned runs for HIU.

Payton Robertson was asked for length on the mound for the first time this season, as he worked 3.1 innings and threw three scoreless before surrendering two Royal runs in the eighth. 

GAME INFO

Score: RV Arizona Christian 1 | #10 Hope International 8
Records: RV ACU 38-21 | #10 HIU 43-16
Location: Harris Field - Lewiston, ID

STAT TRACKER

Matthew Beckworth - 3 hits, 1 double
Ryan Eastham - 1 hit
Trey Tarver - 1 hit
Jaylen Edmonds - 1 RBI 
Eli Elliott - 4.0 IP, 6 RA, 5 K
Payton Robertson - 3.1 IP, 2 RA, 3 K

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

Hope International pounced on Elliott right out of the gates, reeling off three opening hits and two runs. Elliott responded with three consecutive punch outs and limited the damage to 2-0. All ACU could manage was a runner at first (Titialii walked) before their first inning was over.

Elliott allowed another leadoff runner (Ryan Maciel) and even after he hit just his third batter (David Rivera) this whole season, the senior forced a fly out and stranded two. Sean Garcia reached by a fielding error and Beckworth got the Firestorm into the hit column (single), but three outs surrounded the two batters and sent a second zero up on the right-field scoreboard.

Though Elliott conceded two more free passes (walk, hit by pitch), his fifth strikeout and continued pitching rhythm forced two Royal batters to fly out. Trey Tarver hoped to kickstart a two-out rally for ACU with a single through the right gap, but Kane Kiaunis' second deep fly out of the game left a goose egg by their name. 

The ACU defense seemed to be on their way to another scoreless inning with two of the first three HIU players retired. However, a double by Alex Moreno and intentional walk of the dangerous JJ Cruz loaded the base pads. Elliott's fifth free pass ushered one run before miscommunication between Elliott and third baseman turned a failed pickoff attempt into three unearned Royal runs.

Self-inflicted wounds in the fourth saw the deficit grow to 6-0. Jared Anderson would become ACU's first reaching leadoff batter before three Firestorm could not hit balls that left the infield. Beckworth, the final of those put out, was victim to a fantastic leaping snag by Cruz who truly saved a run.

For the first time all game, both teams went "three up, three down," Robertson relieving Elliott and credited with two punch outs. The sixth frame had the same refrain, both sides retired in order.

Despite hitting Cruz in the leadoff spot, Robertson induced a 5-4-3 double play and stranded one Royal for his third consecutive scoreless effort in relief. Ryan Eastham (single) and Beckworth (double) each got on base with one out, finally putting the Firestorm in business. Jaylen Edmonds brought in the first and only ACU run with a groundout to the HIU shortstop Rivera. A proceeding strikeout by Andrew Ivy halted a potential barrage.

A cocktail of throwing error, passed ball and wild pitch equated to a back-breaking eighth for the Firestorm defense. Rivera's second hit of the elimination contest (double) produced the Royal's eighth run with only one out in Robertson's back pocket. Jackson Hohensee took over for Robertson and, despite walking his first two batters, forced a 6-4-3 double play to keep the seven-run distance between his Firestorm and the Royals.

Down to their final six outs, ACU's Titialii and Kiaunis were each hit by a pitch. The two players pulled off a double steal of second and third, but two fly outs ruined another rally chance. 

Hohensee efficiently gave his team a 1, 2, 3 inning but the only response the Firestorm could muster was a Beckworth single in the ninth.

THOUGHTS FROM COACH JOE MCDONALD

"I can't begin to describe how proud I am of these young men in what all they accomplished on the field and more importantly off of the field," Coach McDonald said. "I've never received so many compliments from community members, opponents, umpires and facilities maintenance workers in any other season. This is definitely a memory of a lifetime that put ACU even higher on the map. I love this team."

NEXT FOR THE FIRESTORM

Arizona Christian's season has come to an end, as they finish as one of six finalists in the 2024 Avista NAIA World Series. Stay up to date with ACU Baseball this offseason by following @ACUFirestorm on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as well as @ACUBaseball1 on Twitter.

                          
Roll Storm!