Baseball Natalie Lopez

ACU Slugs Six Homers in Doubleheader Sweep, Extends Win Streak to Eight

Glendale, Ariz.- ACU put on an offensive showcase in a dominant doubleheader sweep over Briar Cliff University, winning game one by a staggering 26-4 margin and capping the night with a 9-1 victory in game two. 

In game one, the Firestorm wasted no time setting the tone, exploding for 11 first-inning runs, including a pair of two-run homers from Trey Tarver and Kane Kiaunis. The Firestorm never looked back, racking up 20 hits and scoring in every inning except the seventh. Logan Sanders, Jaylen Edmonds, and Jake Petrus also hit home runs, making it a total of five in the game. 

In game two, ACU relied on their pitching as Trey Tarver dominated with five shutout innings and ten strikeouts. The Firestorm's offense continued to roll, highlighted by a two-run homer from Kane Kiaunis and a five-run fifth inning fueled by Nathan Greene's two-run double. Briar Cliff's lone run came in the seventh inning, as Johnny Reed knocked in Cam Riemer on a single. However, ACU's pitching held strong, allowing just two hits and striking out 13 batters.

With the sweep, Arizona Christian improved to 16-4 on the season, while Briar Cliff fell to 4-5. The Firestorm will look to carry their momentum into their next matchup against Morningside University.

Game Info
  • Game One Score: Arizona Christian - 26 , Briar Cliff - 4
  • Game Two Score: Arizona Christian - 9, Briar Cliff - 1
  • Records: Arizona Christian - 16-4, Briar Cliff - 4-5
  • Location: Greenway High School, Glendale, AZ

ACU Game One Stats
  • Trey Tarver - 4-5, 4 hits, 1 home run, 4 runs, 5 RBI
  • Jaylen Edmonds - 4-5, 4 hits, 1 home run, 2 runs, 3 RBI, 1 walk
  • Kimo Fukofuka - 3-4, 3 hits, 5 runs, 3 RBI
  • Logan Sanders - 3-5, 3 hits, 1 home run, 2 runs, 7 RBI
  • Kane Kiaunis - 2-4, 2 hits, 1 home run, 3 runs, 4 RBI, 2 walks
  • Jake Petrus - 1-2, 1 hit, 1 home run, 1 run, 3 RBI
  • Matthew Beckworth - 1-3, 1 hit, 1 run, 1 RBI

Inside Game One
  • In the bottom of the first inning, the Firestorm scored a season high of 11 runs in an outing, with Tarver and Kiaunis both hitting two-run home runs. ACU lead 11-1. 
  • The Firestorm added another 4 runs to the board as Fukofuka and Tarver each hit singles and earned a couple of RBI. ACU extended their lead, 15-3 at the end of the second inning.
  • Edmonds homered in the third inning, extending ACU's lead 16-4. 
  • In the fourth inning, another two runs scored after Logan Sanders hit a sacrifice fly and drove in Fukofuka. Edmonds also hit a double and drove in Tarver to score. ACU extended their lead, 18-4. 
  • In the fifth inning, Logan Sanders singled up the middle and drove in two baserunners. ACU extended their lead, 20-4.
  • The Firestorm sealed the win after scoring another six runs in the seventh inning after Petrus and Logan Sanders both hit 3-run home runs. 
  • ACU won the game, 26-4. 

ACU Game Two Stats
  • Sean Garcia - 2-4, 2 hits, 1 run, 1 RBI
  • Nathan Greene - 2-3, 2 hits, 1 run, 2 RBI
  • Kane Kiaunis - 1-3, 1 hit, 1 home run, 1 run, 3 RBI
  • Kimo Fukofuka - 1-2, 1 hit, 3 runs, 1 walk
  • Logan Sanders - 1-3, 1 hit, 1 run, 1 RBI
  • Jared Anderson - 1-2, 1 hit, 1 walk
  • Matthew Beckworth - 0-2, 1 run, 1 walk
Inside Game Two
  • In the first inning, the Firestorm got on the board first when Kiaunis hit a sacrifice fly to right field, driving in Fukofuka to score. ACU was up, 1-0.
  • Beckworth scored in the second inning when he stole home on a wild pitch. ACU extended their lead, 2-0. 
  • ACU had a big outing in the fifth, when they scored 5 runs in the inning. ACU extended their lead, 7-0. 
  • In the sixth inning, Kiaunis hit a 2-run home run and extended their lead. 
  • ACU won the game, 9-1. 

Thoughts from Coach McDonald
"Today was a great day for us. [I am] really proud of our approach at the plate, pitching and [our] defense."

Up Next
On Wednesday, ACU will host Morningside University at Greenway High School at 7:30pm.