EASLEY, S.C. - The Ottawa University Arizona baseball team opened up play at the 2018 NCCAA World Series in Easley, South Carolina on Wednesday afternoon. The #8 seed Spirit fell to the #1 seed Biola University by a final of 8-4 at the JB "Red" Owens Sports Complex.

With the loss, the Spirit fall to 24-22 overall. With the victory Wednesday, the Biola University Eagles improve to 31-21 overall.



The Spirit returned to the diamond Wednesday afternoon for the first time since April 28, when they concluded their regular season with a doubleheader at San Diego Christian College. OUAZ struggled out of the gates and trailed Biola University 4-0 after two innings of play.

Josh Meyer got OUAZ on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth inning, hitting a solo homerun on a 1-1 pitch to draw the Spirit within three runs at 4-1. The Biola offense however, struck for four more runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning to extend their lead to 8-1.

Catcher Ryan Mortensen drove in Adrian Salazar in the top of the sixth inning with an RBI groundout to the pitcher to draw the Spirit within six runs of the Eagles at 8-2. OUAZ then continued to slowly hack away at the Biola lead in the seventh inning, first with a Greg Saenz RBI double to left field; which scored Josh Meyer whom reached on an error the previous play. Adrian Salazar then stepped to the plate and laced an RBI double down the right field line to score Saenz from second. The offensive barrage would end there for the Spirit and OUAZ would fall by a final of 8-4 to the Biola Eagles.

Spirit starting pitcher Hayden Durkiewicz took the loss on the mound, lasting 4.1 innings while allowing seven runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and three walks.

Offensively for OUAZ, the 3-4-5 hitters of Josh Meyer, Greg Saenz, and Adrian Salazar combined to finish 6-for-13 at the plate with four runs scored, three RBI's, and one walk.

The #8 Spirit return to pool play action on Thursday, with a pair of games at Easley High School. OUAZ will face #9 seed Bluefield College at 9am EST/6am Arizona time, followed by a game against #5 seed Concordia University (MI) - Ann Arbor at 12 Noon EST/9am 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.