By: Natalie Lopez

Glendale, Ariz. – Arizona Christian used a dominant middle-inning surge and overpowering pitching to secure a 10-2 win over Southwest. Offensively, Noah Manasan led the way with three runs scored and two hits, while Luke Zuromski finished with three RBIs. Austin Kirkpatrick added three RBIs of his own with his fifth-inning homer. Kolten Lindstrom and Marcellus Cueva each recorded multi-hit performances as ACU finished with 14 hits total to defeat the Mustangs. Defensively, Tyson Kilbreath earned the win on the mound, improving to 2-0 after striking out 10 over five innings while allowing just two runs. The bullpen was dominant behind him, as Jack Brooker struck out six across two scoreless innings, while Mason Whiteley and David Gordon II each tossed a scoreless frame to finish the game. The Firestorm's pitching staff struck out 19 batters on the day. 


Game Info

• Score: Arizona Christian - 10, University of Southwest - 2
• Records: Arizona Christian - 7-2, University of Southwest - 3-3
• Location: ACU Baseball Field, Glendale, AZ

ACU Stats

• Kolten Lindstrom - 3 for 4, 3 hits, 1 run
• Noah Manasan - 2 for 4, 2 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk
• Luke Zuromski - 2 for 5, 2 hits, 3 RBI
• Marcellus Cueva - 2 for 4, 2 hits, 1 RBI
• Austin Kirkpatrick - 1 for 4, 1 hit, 1 home run, 3 RBI, 1 run, 1 walk
• Andrew Ivy - 1 for 4, 1 hit, 1 run, 1 walk
• Ty Gillespie - 1 for 3, 1 hit, 1 run, 1 walk
• Jacob Solis - 1 for 5, 1 hit, 1 run, 1 RBI
• Joey Genduso - 1 for 4, 1 hit, 2 RBI
• Tyson Kilbreath - 5.0 IP, 10 K, 6 hits, 2 runs, 2 earned runs, win

Inside The Game

• Southwest struck first in the opening frame on an RBI hit-by-pitch, but ACU answered immediately when Zuromski drove in Manasan with an RBI groundout to even the score at 1-1. 
• Southwest briefly regained the lead in the fifth on an RBI double, setting the stage for ACU's biggest offensive inning of the day.
• The Firestorm erupted in the bottom of the fifth, highlighted by Zuromski's two-run single and Austin Kirkpatrick's three-run home run to right field. 
• RBI hits from Jacob Solis and Marcellus Cueva capped the inning as ACU plated seven runs on six hits to take an 8-2 lead.
• ACU added insurance runs in the sixth and eighth innings on RBI groundouts by Joey Genduso to close out the scoring.
• ACU won the game, 10-2. 

Thoughts from Coach McDonald
"This week was a great week for us. A lot of growth to find out what we are capable of. I Love This Team!"


Up Next
On Thursday, ACU will travel to Pineville, Louisiana to play Louisiana Christian University at 6:00pm.