POWAY, Calif. - The Ottawa University Arizona baseball team rallied Saturday to claim the series victory at the University of Saint Katherine with a pair of victories over the Firebirds. The Spirit won game one by a final of 3-2 and won game two by a final of 7-2.

With the victories Saturday, OUAZ improves to 14-16 overall on the season. With the losses, the University of Saint Katherine Firebirds fall to 21-13 overall.

"Today we showed a lot of toughness coming back, when we didn't give our best effort," said OUAZ head baseball coach Tim Montez. "Our guys showed a lot of heart and determination, especially when one of our best young players went down early in the first game with a knee injury. We also had one of our starting outfielders stay home this weekend, while battling the flu."

Montez continued, "We got outstanding pitching all weekend long, especially out of the bullpen against a very good and well coached Saint Katherine club. Today was a complete team effort."

It was a long day for the Spirit and Firebirds on Saturday, as the two squads played a pair of nine-inning games. In the first game of the day, both teams scored a pair of runs each in the first inning to sit in an even tie at 2-2. Both pitchers settled in, until the top of the third inning. Following a pair of walks and a hit-by-pitch, the Spirit were able to capitalize when Esteban Martinez singled up the middle to score Greg Saenz and put the Spirit ahead at 3-2.

That was all of the support that OUAZ starting pitcher Hayden Durkiewicz would need. He lasted six innings, while allowing just two runs on eight hits with a strikeout and three walks. Devon Lindley, Colton Follett, and Tyler Collins combined to pitch the final three innings, while not allowing a hit and surrendering just three walks. Tyler Collins picked up the save, getting all three outs in relief in the ninth, while leaving the bases loaded to get OUAZ out of the jam and secure the game one victory for the Spirit.

Game two came down to the ninth inning, as the teams were all squared up at one run apiece. The Spirit offense exploded for six runs on four hits and they took advantage of the two Firebird errors to take the commanding 7-1 lead. Saint Katherine struck for a run in the bottom of the ninth inning, but it wasn't enough as OUAZ sealed the doubleheader sweep on Saturday afternoon.

Archy Olson led the Spirit offensively in game two, finishing 2-for-3 at the plate with one run scored and an RBI. 

Miguel Cirino, Dylan Chelini, Travis Hawkins and Tyler Collins combined to pitch nine innings, while allowing two runs; one earned on five hits with nine strikeouts and six walks.

The Spirit return home this week for a three game series against the Simpson University Redhawks. Game one of the three game set is scheduled for this Tuesday evening at 6pm and will be played on the Kansas City Royals Field 6 inside of the Surprise Spring Training complex.
   
 
 
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.