SURPRISE, Ariz. - The Ottawa University Arizona baseball team fell to the Benedictine University at Mesa Redhawks on Tuesday evening by a final of 11-3 inside of Surprise Stadium.
 
With the loss, the Spirit fall to 18-17 overall. With the victory, the Redhawks from Benedictine University at Mesa improve to 29-14 overall.

"Today we just couldn't get anything going," said OUAZ head baseball coach Tim Montez. "We had no rhythm or consistency both on the mound and at the plate. I thought our effort was ok and we played solid defense, but we showed a little rust from not playing since last Thursday."

Montez continued, "That's the battle we have to learn how to deal with; when we have back-to-back weekends off. The only way to stay locked in when you have a lot of time off between games, is to pay unbelievable attention to the smallest details and stay in tune mentally. We need to flush this and get ready for a nationally ranked Saint Katherine team coming in on Thursday."
 
The BenU Mesa Redhawks scored first in the top of the first inning, following a pair of singles to take the early 1-0 lead. OUAZ responded in the bottom of the second inning, when catcher Ryan Mortenson doubled in Esteban Martinez to even the score at 1-1.

OUAZ claimed their first lead in the game in the bottom of the fourth inning, when Greg Saenz started the inning with a single. He would later come around to score on an RBI groundout by Daniel Cardenas.

The Redhawk offense then exploded, opening the game up and taking the lead for good with a seven run fifth inning. BenU Mesa scored the seven runs on five hits and left one runner on base. The Redhawks then scored three more runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a commanding 11-2 lead.

OUAZ got one more run on the board in the bottom of the eighth inning, when Rylan Collins singled in Adrian Salazar for the games' final run.

Spirit starting pitcher Hayden Durkiewicz (6-1) took the loss on the mound for OUAZ, lasting just 4.2 innings, while allowing seven earned runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and three walks. 
 
The Spirit return to action this Thursday and Friday in a crucial series against NCCAA West Region foe; the University of Saint Katherine Firebirds. The series begins Thursday, with a doubleheader beginning at 2pm at Surprise Stadium.
   
 
 
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.