ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Ottawa University Arizona baseball team fell on Thursday afternoon to the Bethesda University of California Flames by a final of 10-3 in Anaheim, California.

With the loss, the Spirit fall to 8-13 overall on the season. With the victory, the Flames improve to 6-15-1 on the season.

"After scoring 22 runs yesterday, we did not handle the responsibility of what the next day would be like," said OUAZ head baseball coach Tim Montez. "We were not mentally prepared and that is my fault. Somewhere down the line we are going to have to win a low scoring game."

Montez continued, "We have a chance to answer back tomorrow with another early start, so we will see if we learned anything from today."

The Spirit struck first on Thursday, as Gabe Rios doubled in Greg Saenz in the top of the second inning to give OUAZ the 1-0 lead. The Spirit tacked on another run in the top of the fourth inning, when Austin Shumaker singled in Gabe Rios to give OUAZ the 2-0 lead.

Bethesda University then scored two runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth inning to even the game at 2-2. The Flames put the game away for good after adding three runs in the fifth inning and five runs in the eighth inning to seal the 10-3 victory.

Gabe Rios finished the day a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate, with three singles and a double.

Game two of this three game series is set for Friday morning from Anaheim, California. First pitch is scheduled for 10:30am 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 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.