By: Natalie Lopez

Glendale, Ariz. – Arizona Christian used a relentless offensive attack and a decisive fifth inning to pull away from Southwest, rolling to an 18–8 victory. The Firestorm piled up 19 hits and swiped nine bases, improving to 6–2 on the season in a high-energy, back-and-forth contest. Ty Gillespie led the offensive charge, going 4-for-5 with three RBIs and two doubles. Joey Genduso finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs, including his third home run of the season. Luke Zuromski was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, while Marcellus Cueva drove in three runs and scored three times.


Game Info

• Score: Arizona Christian - 18, University of Southwest - 8
• Records: Arizona Christian - 6-2, University of Southwest - 3-2
• Location: ACU Baseball Field, Glendale, AZ

ACU Stats

• Ty Gillespie - 4 for 5, 4 hits, 3 RBI, 3 runs
• Luke Zuromski - 3 for 3, 3 hits, 1 RBI, 2 runs
• Noah Manasan - 2 for 5, 2 hits, 1 RBI, 2 runs, 1 walk
• Joey Genduso - 2 for 4, 2 hits, 1 home run, 3 RBI, 2 runs
• Kolten Lindstrom - 2 for 5, 2 hits, 2 runs
• Marcellus Cueva - 1 for 3, 1 hit, 3 RBI, 3 runs, 1 walk
• Austin Kirkpatrick - 1 for 4, 1 hit, 1 RBI, 2 runs, 1 walk
• Andrew Flynn - 1 for 2, 1 hit, 2 RBI
• Zach Blair - 1 for 5, 1 hit, 2 runs
• Kaden Clute - 1 for 2, 1 hit
• Maddox Hodges - 1 for 1, 1 hit
• Frank Wierman - 4.0 IP, 7 K, 3 walks, 5 runs
• R'Mani Adams - 1.0 IP, 1 K, 1 hit, 0 runs, win

Inside The Game

• ACU wasted no time setting the tone, jumping out to a four-run lead in the opening frame. 
• Austin Kirkpatrick put the Firestorm on the board with an RBI single, and a balk allowed another run to score moments later. 
• Genduso followed with an RBI single before Gillespie capped the inning with an RBI double down the right-field line to make it 4–0.
• Southwest answered with a run in the second, but the ACU quickly responded as Zuromski drove in Cueva with a two-out single to restore a four-run cushion.
• After Southwest pulled even with a four-run fifth inning, the Firestorm delivered the game's defining moment. 
• ACU erupted for nine runs in the bottom of the fifth, reclaiming momentum for good. 
• Gillespie got things started with an RBI single, and Cueva followed with a two-run knock to right. 
• Noah Manasan added an RBI single, and aggressive base running — including a steal of home by Manasan — put constant pressure on the Southwest defense. 
• Genduso punctuated the outburst with a two-run homer to left, pushing ACU in front 14–5.
• Southwest scratched across three runs in the sixth, but ACU again answered immediately. 
• Andrew Flynn delivered a two-run double to right-center, and the Firestorm continued to add on in the seventh with RBI singles from Gillespie and a run-scoring fielder's choice by Cueva to cap the scoring at 18.
• ACU won the game, 18-8. 

Up Next
On Saturday, ACU will host University of Southwest (N.M.) at 4:30pm on the ACU Baseball Field.