THE AGENDA
The OUAZ baseball team continues its season this week with five games, including their first-ever home Golden State Athletic Conference series. The Spirit will start the week with a neutral site game against Bemidji State at Firestorm Field in Phoenix at 1:30 p.m. on Monday. They then host GSAC doubleheaders against San Diego Christian on Friday and Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Game one both days will be played on the Texas Rangers field No. 4 with the second game being moved to Kansas City Royals field No. 6 at the Surprise Stadium complex.
 
All GSAC doubleheaders start with a 9-inning game and are followed with a 7-inning game.
 
No live coverage will be available during Monday's game against Bemidji State. Live stats will be available during all four GSAC games over the weekend. Live video will be available for the second game on Saturday. Live video for the other three games of the series is being determined and will be announced on game days. Links for any available live coverage can be found at OUAZSpirit.com/live.
 
ABOUT THE SPIRIT
OUAZ starts the week with a 9-10 overall record and having just one win in their past eight games played. They are 1-7 in GSAC games to currently sit ninth in the conference and six games out of first. The Spirit are 7-3 at home this season and they have won six of the last seven at home.
 
Entering the week, OUAZ is batting .261 as a team with a .694 OPS. They have recorded 23 doubles, five triples, and seven home runs to average 5.63 runs per game. The Spirit are 43 of 57 in stolen base attempts while adding 20 sacrifice bunts and 19 sacrifice flies.
 
The Spirit pitching staff holds a 4.73 earned run average (ERA) with a 1.58 WHIP. Opponents are batting .291 off the staff with 47 extra base hits including nine home runs. The Spirit averaging 9.17 strikeouts per nine innings with a 2.37 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
 
In the field, OUAZ has committed 32 errors with a .954 fielding percentage. The Spirit have tuned 32 double plays and they have caught 11 of 24 base stealers.
 
AT THE PLATE
Austin Shumaker is leading the Spirit with his 21 hits and .396 batting average. He has four multi-hit games and a team-best two 3-hit games. His current seven-game hitting streak is tied for the longest by a Spirit player this season. Shumaker has five doubles, two triples and nine runs batted in.
 
Esteban Martinez has recorded 19 hits and holds a .292 batting average. He leads the team with 12 runs batted in and he is tied for the lead with nine base on balls. Martinez has scored 11 runs and has six stolen bases in eight attempts.
 
Chandler Reynard is batting .300 with 18 hits and 24 total bases. He is second on the club with 13 runs scored while adding 10 RBI. Reynard is tied for the team lead with six multi-hit games and he has an .811 OPS.
 
Adrian Salazar also has six multi-hit games and he starts the week with 17 hits and a .309 average. He has posted four of those multi-hit games over the past six games played. Salazar has four doubles, one triple, and one home run with 11 runs batted in.
 
ON THE MOUND
Travis Hawkins leads the Spirit starters with his 3.22 ERA while holding a 3-2 record. He is holding opponents to a .218 batting average with a 1.27 WHIP in six appearance (four starts). Hawkins is tied for the team lead with 21 strikeouts.
 
Miguel Cirino holds a 3.74 ERA in five appearances and three starts. He is 0-2 with two saves on the year while recording 21 strikeouts. Opponents are batting .192 off Cirino and he holds a 1.08 WHIP.
 
Cole Anderson has made five appearances (four starts) with a 1-2 record and 3.97 ERA. He has 20 strikeouts and an opponent batting average of .351.
 
Taylor Campos leads the Spirit with nine appearances out of the bullpen.  He holds a 0.82 ERA with one save. In 11 innings on the hill, Campos held opponents to a .200 batting average with eight strikeouts.
 
ABOUT BEMIDJI STATE
Bemidji State – an NCAA Division II team – is currently 1-8 on the season and they will face Arizona Christian prior to Monday's game against the Spirit. The Beavers are batting .249 with a .694 OPS while scoring 4.44 runs per game. They hold an 11.66 ERA and 2.43 WHIP while opponents hit 393.
 
Monday is the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
 
ABOUT SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN
San Diego Christian will begin their week with a 7-16 overall record and having dropped 11 of their past 12 games played. The Hawks are eighth in the GSAC with their 2-10 GSAC record. They are currently batting .252 with a .700 OPS and scoring 4.9 runs per game. The Hawks have a 6.60 ERA and 1.69 WHIP.
 
The Spirit took three of the four games the team played last year in San Diego. OUAZ outscored the Hawks 24-21 in those four games.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
OUAZ will head to Rocklin, California next week for a GSAC series against William Jessup. That series features a doubleheader on both Match 22 and 23.