SURPRISE, ARIZ. – The 19th-ranked OUAZ baseball team wrapped up its regular season series with the #20 Hope International on Saturday, as the two teams battled in a doubleheader. Despite a solid effort and an extra-innings contest, the Spirit were unable to take a win away from the day.
#20 Hope International 7, #19 OUAZ 2
For the second straight game, the Royals scored runs in the first inning. HIU put up a pair in the opening half-inning, and would add two more in the fourth.
OUAZ would answer in the bottom of the fifth when Nicholas Lustig hit a home run to left center. Lustig would get halfway through the cycle, as he also had a single in the bottom of the third.
The Spirit would put together an opportunity to make the game close in the sixth, and would score once. Matthew Carter would single home Gabriel DeJesus, and OUAZ would cut the deficit to 5-2.
The Spirit had eight hits, with seven different players having at least one. Christian Powell had the other extra-base hit for OUAZ, doubling down the left field line to lead off the bottom of the fourth.
#20 Hope International 7, #19 OUAZ 5 (8 Innings)
The Spirit found themselves down again, but fought its way back into the game in dramatic fashion. Trailing 4-0 with just nine outs remaining, the Spirit tied the game in the fifth.
The first three OUAZ batters reached with singles, and Zach Valencia would hit a sacrifice fly to give the Spirit its first run of the game. With two outs and two runners on, Powell would hit a three-run home run to tie the contest and keep OUAZ in the game.
While Hope International scored in the top of the seventh, the Spirit answered back down to its final two outs. Lustig started with a leadoff walk, and after being moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, scored on Joey Winters's single.
Daniel Durazo had a pair of hits leading the way offensively for OUAZ. The Spirit had eight hits in this contest as well, and also drew four walks as a team.
OUAZ will have next week off from GSAC play, but will see action against a future conference foe. The Spirit will travel to face #25 Benedictine Mesa, with first pitch from Gene Autry Park scheduled for 6 p.m.
