GLENDALE, Ariz. – One day after getting off to a slow start in their season opener, the OUAZ baseball team took an early lead before Arizona Christian rallied late for an 8-5 win on the second day of action at the Maricopa Cup held at Apollo High School on Friday.
 
OUAZ (0-2) scored three times in the first inning and had a chance for more as they left the bases loaded. Adrian Salazar delivered a two-run double in the inning and then scored the third run on a Derek Hayenga fielder's choice.
 
The Spirit failed to add-on to their advantage in the next two innings where they stranded another four runners on base with all of them in scoring position.
 
Arizona Christian (2-0) found little success off OUAZ starting pitcher Gage Johnson. Making his Spirit debut, Johnson allowed just one run and one hit with three strikeouts in four innings of work. The charged run came in the fifth inning after he exited the game with a pair of runners on base.
 
After getting a single run in the fifth inning, ACU took the lead with a four-run sixth inning and the Firestorm would add to their lead with two runs in the seventh and another in the eighth.
 
Ben Lewis delivered the Spirit's final two runs with a two-run, two-out single in the top of the eighth inning. OUAZ again left the bases loaded in the eighth, and then in the ninth they got the tying run to the plate with two outs before Daniel Partida grounded out to end the game.
 
Johnny Cherpak had three hits – including a pair of doubles – for the Spirit. Lewis, Jordan Hollins, and Elijah Celaya added two hits apiece.
 
Myles White (0-1) suffered the loss for the Spirit after allowing two runs in one-third of an inning.
 
OUAZ will close the Maricopa Cup on Saturday morning when they face Park Gilbert at 11 a.m. on the back field of Tempe Diablo Stadium.