The OUAZ Baseball team split a doubleheader against 9th-ranked Taylor University on Friday at the Surprise Spring Training facility. 
 
In game one, the Spirit (2-1) won convincingly 14-1, then dropped the backend of the double dip 4-3 in seven innings.
 
Joey Winters went four for seven with a double, the first home run of the season, and five runs batted in on the day.  Other hitters to have a good day at the plate were Sergio Alfaro with a two for four with a double and three runs batted in.  Daniel Durazo went three for four with a double and a pair of runs batted in.
 
In the opener OUAZ struck quickly with a three-run second inning, then put the game out of reach with a ten-run fifth to take a 13-0 lead.  The Spirit tacked on the final run in the seventh for a 14-0 lead.  Taylor (1-2) scored their lone run in the top of the ninth. 
 
Zach Hangas (1-0) earned the win after throwing five innings of three-hit ball, striking out four while giving up five free passes.  Brandon Smith allowed one run on two hits in his four innings of work to earn the save.
 
In game two, the Trojans erupted for their biggest inning of the season with a four-run top of the third.  OUAZ responded quickly with a pair of runs to make it 4-2 at the end of three.  In the sixth, the Spirit would close to within one at 4-3, but that is how it ended.
 
Gavin Burns (0-1) took the loss after allowing four earned runs on four hits in three and a third innings with four strikeouts.  Peyton Little and Luke Tedrick each went an inning and a third of shutout ball, while Creighton Silvian closed out the day with a scoreless inning.
 
The Spirit and Trojans will close out the series today with a single game at the Spring Training facility a few blocks from campus. First pitch is at noon.