IRVINE, Calif. -- Benedictine Mesa stayed alive in the 2026 GSAC Baseball Championship on Tuesday afternoon, rallying past Arizona Christian 8-7 at OC Great Park. The Redhawks overcame an early three-run deficit, then used two unearned runs in the eighth inning to eliminate Arizona Christian and move on in the men’s tournament.
Arizona Christian appeared in control after building a 5-2 lead. The Firestorm scored twice in the first inning when Zack Blair singled and stole second, Joey Genduso drew an RBI walk and Ty Gillespie added a sacrifice fly. After Benedictine Mesa answered with two unearned runs in the bottom of the first on Christian Ramos’ two-run single, Arizona Christian pulled away again in the fourth. Reese Vassar doubled, and the Firestorm took advantage of a throwing error before Noah Manasan lined a two-run single to make it 5-2.
Benedictine Mesa chipped back into the game in the fifth, then broke through in the sixth. Anthony Setticasi brought home a run on a fielder’s choice, and Jack Moore followed with an RBI single as the Redhawks surged in front 6-5. Arizona Christian answered with a run in the seventh to tie it, but Benedictine Mesa found the decisive sequence an inning later. Tyler Jackson singled in the bottom of the eighth, and two unearned runs scored on a throwing error and a passed ball, pushing the lead to 8-6.
Arizona Christian made one last push in the ninth. Andrew Ivy doubled and later scored on Vassar’s RBI single to trim the margin to one run, but Benedictine Mesa closed out the comeback. Vassar led Arizona Christian at the plate, finishing 4 for 5 with a run scored and two RBIs, while Ivy added two hits and two runs. Blair also helped spark the top of the order as Arizona Christian finished with 14 hits.
Moore paced Benedictine Mesa offensively, going 3 for 5 with two runs and an RBI. On the mound, Anthony Del Rio gave Benedictine Mesa a needed long outing, working seven innings while allowing 11 hits and four runs, three earned. Bobby Romitti handled the final two innings to earn the win. Arizona Christian starter Tyson Kilbreath struck out nine over six innings, but Ty Howry was charged with the loss. Benedictine Mesa finished with 10 hits, struck out 12 Arizona Christian batters and turned two double plays.