SURPRISE, Ariz. - The Ottawa University Arizona baseball team defeated the 24th ranked Vanguard University Lions on Thursday evening by a score of 5-2, on the Kansas City Royals practice field in Surprise, Arizona.

With the victory, the Spirit improve to 11-14 overall and have now won three of their last four games. With the loss, the 24th ranked Vanguard University Lions fall to 14-16-1 overall.

"This is what you call an ugly win, especially with all of the runners we left in scoring position," said OUAZ head baseball coach Tim Montez. "Cole Anderson pitched his tail off and kept us in the ballgame, along with Dylan Chelini and Tyler Collins."

Montez continued, "Our guys are playing with a quiet confidence that is contagious, but we need to stay focused on the process. We need to have high energy workout tomorrow, as we get ready for a pair of early games in Tucson on Saturday."

It was a great team win for the Spirit on Thursday evening, as they recorded their second win in program history over a ranked opponent. The Spirit had also defeated NCAA Division II St. Cloud State University; who was ranked #24 at the time when they played the Spirit on March 2nd. OUAZ used solid hitting, great defense, and received fantastic pitching on the mound in their complete win over the Lions.

Vanguard struck first Thursday, as the Lions scored two runs in the top of the fourth inning on a single and a groundout, to take the early 2-0 lead.

The Spirit offense came alive in the final few innings, as OUAZ struck for two runs in the sixth inning, one run in the seventh, and two more insurance runs in the eighth; to cap off the 5-2 win.

Spirit starter Cole Anderson was lights out on the mound, lasting seven innings while allowing two runs on nine hits with two strikeouts and a walk.

Dylan Chelini and Tyler Collins shutdown the Lions in the eighth and ninth innings. Chelini was credited with a hold, while Collins earned the save in his one inning of work and two strikeouts.

Offensively for OUAZ, the 8-9 hitters of Gabe Rios and Jared Crockett combined to go 4-for-7 at the plate with a run scored and two stolen bases.

The Spirit return to the diamond this Saturday, when they travel down to Tucson for a pair of games in the Tucson Invitational. OUAZ will face 16th ranked University of Jamestown at 9am, followed by a rematch against Bethesda University of California at 12:30pm.
   
 
 
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 4,000 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.