IRVINE, CALIF. – The OUAZ baseball team had a great start to the day, scoring runs in each of the first four innings in a win over Vanguard to open the GSAC Tournament. The Spirit would then match up with top seed and #8 Hope International to wrap up the day, but a frantic first inning would push the Spirit to the brink of elimination heading into Tuesday.
(4) OUAZ 14, (5) Vanguard 5
The Spirt would get off to an amazing start, scoring three times in the first inning. The big hit of the frame came courtesy of Daniel Durazo, who singled home a pair to give OUAZ the 3-0 lead.
After adding two more in the second thanks to a Nicholas Lustig single, the Spirit would score six more runs in the third inning. A successful delayed double steal, a wild pitch, and a pair of two-RBI singles would push the OUAZ advantage to 11-0.
The Spirit would once again take advantage of a wild pitch, plating one more run in the fourth inning. While Vanguard would score three runs, OUAZ would add two more in the eighth with a single and a sacrifice fly.
Lustig, Durazo, Nathan Tarver, and Owen Prendergast each had three hits, and as a group were responsible for 12 of the Spirit's 16 hits. Those four also drove in three runs each as well, and Lustig was also able to draw three walks, reaching base six times.
Zach Hangas turned in another excellent start, pitching 6.2 innings and allowing just five hits. Hangas also struck out four batters, and Connor Wilson added two punchouts.
(1) #8 Hope International 10, (4) OUAZ 5
The Spirit jumped out to another lead right away, scoring three times in the first inning. Christian Powell and Tarver each had RBI singles, and Durazo opened the scoring with an RBI groundout.
While the Spirit had a great top half of the opening frame, the Royals matched it and then some. HIU would score seven times in the bottom of the first, and OUAZ would be chasing the game the rest of the way.
The Spirit would answer back right away in the second, as the team brought home another run to cut its deficit to three. OUAZ would get within two in the third inning, as Tarver would single home Durazo to pull the score to 7-5.
The Spirit finished with seven total hits, and six different players recorded at least one. Tarver put together a two-hit, two-RBI performance to drive the OUAZ offense.
Elimination games are on the docket the rest of the way for the Spirit, starting with a matchup against either Vanguard or Arizona Christian. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
