SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The Ottawa University Arizona baseball team fell on Friday afternoon in their first games in program history. The Spirit fell 6-2 in game one at Westmont College, and then dropped game two by a final of 5-0.

With the losses Friday, OUAZ begins the 2018 season with a 0-2 mark. Westmont College improves to 2-0 on the young season with their victories.
 
"We got our feet wet against a very solid, well coached team in Westmont," said OUAZ head baseball coach Tim Montez. "Cole Anderson competed well in game one. His ability to make big pitches with runners on, kept us in the ballgame. Even though we outhit them 10-6 in the game, they came up with big two out hits."
 
In game one, OUAZ struck first as Esteban Martinez drove in Adrian Salazar on a groundout to second base. Westmont would then even the contest in the bottom half of the inning at 1-1.
 
The Warriors then broke the game open for good in the fifth and sixth innings, as Westmont's offense struck for a total of five runs; to take a commanding 6-1 lead.
 
OUAZ closed out the scoring in the top of the seventh inning, when Gabe Rios drew a bases-loaded walk that scored Race Traynor.
 
Traynor, Chandler Reynard, and Adrian Salazar all led the Spirit with a pair of hits each in game one.
 
"In the second game, we just didn't compete in the box," said Montez. "We gave up two runs in the first inning and we never answered back. The college baseball season is not a sprint, it is a marathon. The goal is to be playing our best baseball as we grow into the season."
 
The Westmont Warriors struck for two runs in the bottom of the first inning in game two and never looked back. The Warriors struck for another run in the third inning and tacked on two more runs in the fifth on a two-run homer.
 
The Spirit offense finished game two with only two hits. OUAZ starting pitcher Travis Hawkins went all six innings, while allowing five runs; three earned on six hits, while striking out two and walking just one.
 
The Spirit close out their series with the Westmont Warriors on Saturday, when the two squads play another doubleheader; beginning at 12 noon Arizona time. OUAZ closes out the weekend roadtrip with a doubleheader Sunday at La Sierra University, beginning at 12 noon Arizona time.
   
  
About Ottawa University
Founded in 1865, Ottawa University prepares professional and liberal arts graduates for lifetimes of personal significance, vocational fulfillment and service to God and humanity within a Christ-inspired community of grace and open inquiry. Ottawa University is a comprehensive, not-for-profit educational institution serving 3,000 students through its residential campuses in Ottawa, Kan., and Surprise, Ariz., and adult campuses in Overland Park, Kan.; Phoenix, Queen Creek and Surprise, Ariz.; Brookfield, Wis.; Jeffersonville, Ind.; as well as online. For more information, visit www.ottawa.edu. 
 
For more information about OUAZ athletics, visit http://www.ottawa.edu/ouaz/athletics. Follow OUAZ athletics on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/OUAZSpiritAthletics/ and on Twitter twitter.com/OUAZSpirit.