MESA, Ariz. - The Ottawa University Arizona baseball team fell to the Benedictine University at Mesa Redhawks on Saturday afternoon in a doubleheader. The Spirit fell 5-4 in game one, and dropped game two by a final of 11-7.

With the losses, the Spirit fall to 3-11 overall. With the victories, the BenU Mesa Redhawks improve to 11-7 overall on the year.

In game one, the Spirit got on the board first and then surrendered the lead late to fall 5-4 in nine innings. OUAZ scored a pair of runs in the fourth inning on a single and a double to take the early 2-0 lead. The Spirit claimed two more runs in the top of the seventh on a pair of sacrifices to take a 4-0 lead.

BenU Mesa then struck for a run in the seventh, a run in the eighth, and three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning; to claim the 5-4 walk-off win.

Esteban Martinez led the Spirit offense out of the two-hole, finishing 3-for-5 at the plate with a run scored and an RBI.

Spirit starting pitcher Hayden Durkiewicz threw five shutout innings, while allowing just three hits with four strikeouts and three walks.

In game two, the Redhawks struck early and often. BenU Mesa finished game two with 11 runs on only five hits, while making six defensive errors.

BenU Mesa scored a run in the second inning, two runs in the third, and four runs in both the fourth and fifth innings.

Offensively for the Spirit, catcher Josh Meyer finished 2-for-5 at the plate with three RBI's and both Braxton Smith and Jared Crockett finished 2-for-3 at the plate with a run scored.

The Spirit return to the diamond this Tuesday at 2pm, when they head east to face their other crosstown rival; Arizona Christian University. This will mark the first time that the Firestorm and Spirit have squared off on the diamond.   
 
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.