SURPRISE, Ariz. – The slow start for the OUAZ baseball team took a drastic turn on Friday night as the offense went and put 16 on the board while starting pitcher Taylor Campos hurled one of the best games in program history as the Spirit defeated Park Gilbert 16-3 for their first win of the season.
 
OUAZ (1-4) scored in all but one of the eight innings they came to the plate, including posting a four-spot in three of those frames. Leading 2-0 into the bottom of the fourth inning, the Spirit put up four runs on five hits in the inning to blow the game open.
 
The big blow in the fourth was a two-run double from Adrian Salazar that helped the Spirit to a 6-0 lead. They would tack on four runs without a hit in the sixth inning and four more on just two hits in the eighth.
 
While the offense was scoring all those runs, Campos (1-0) was dominating on the mound. He didn't allow a baserunner until there was one out in the fifth inning and ended the game allowing just one run on four hits in eight innings. Campos added seven strikeouts and just one walk.
 
By completing the eighth inning, Campos became the first player in program history to pitch that deep into a game. His 76 game score metric is the second-best in team history and came on a night he threw 95 pitches.
 
Jared Crockett had a team-best three hits and three runs scored. Salazar had a pair of hits and three RBI with Jordan Hollins getting two hits, including a triple, and scoring two runs. Eight of the nine starters had at least one hit.
 
OUAZ totaled 15 hits as a team with two doubles and two triples. They also drew 16 walks from the Park Gilbert (7-4) pitching staff to set the school record.
 
The teams will close out this three-game series on Saturday at Surprise Stadium where first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.