ACU Softball Opens 2021 With Double 4-3 Walk-off Wins

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Phoenix, Ariz.- In what is believed to be the first softball games of the 2021 season at any collegiate level, Arizona Christian swept Taylor with a pair of 4-3 walk-off wins.  Senior Taylor Roberts collected the first ACU RBI and first ACU win of the season.

Game Info

• Game one score: Arizona Christian – 4, Taylor – 3 (8 innings)
• Game two score: Arizona Christian – 4, Taylor – 3
• Records: Arizona Christian – 2-0, Taylor – 0-2
• NAIA Top 25 ranking: Arizona Christian – RV, Taylor – RV
• Location: Sandra Day O’Connor High School, Phoenix, AZ

ACU Game One Stats

• Taylor Roberts – 1-3, 2B, RBI, BB, 8 innings pitch, one earned run, win
• Claire Buckley – 1-3, RBI
• Lani San Pedro – 1-3, run
• Paige Bryant – 1-3, run

Inside Game One

• San Pedro reached on error to start the bottom of the first
• Bryant followed with a single and double steal with San Pedro
• Roberts smashed a double to left to drive in the first run of the season
• Buckley then singled home a run
• After the Trojans scored two in the second and one in the third, both teams went scoreless until the eighth
• The Trojans failed to drive in their international tie break runner in the top of the eighth
• Jade Phillips sacrificed Buckley to third in the bottom of the eighth
• Kylee Brown flied to center and an errant return throw to third allowed Buckley to get up and score the game winner
• Roberts threw all eight innings to earn the win

ACU Game Two Stats

• Claire Buckley – 2-3, run
• Jade Phillips – 1-2, run
• Kirsten Garcia – 1-2, run
• Mady Carli – run
• Helen Hayes ­- 1.2 innings, win

Inside Game Two

• Both teams scored in the first
• San Pedro cashed in Carli with a fielder’s choice
• TU added two in the fourth on a home run
• ACU counter with two unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth
• Phillips threw the potential go ahead run out at the plate from left field to end the sixth
• Buckley singled up the middle leading off the bottom of the seventh
• Carli laid down a sacrifice bunt but the throw went into right field and an errant return throw from right allowed Buckley to score from first to seal the victory
• Hayes did not allow a hit in her 1.2 innings of relief for her first win of the season

Thoughts from Coach Gutierrez

“What a great day of softball.  We started Friday saying God is Good and always on time as our cleats and jerseys came in just in time for our first game.  It carried on as we scored in the bottom of the 8th and 7th innings after a 3-3 tie in both and all we could say to the girls was God is always good and always on time!  It was such a blessing to see so many different girls contribute in both games defensively and offensively.  They played as a team who truly love and play for each other.  We still have a lot to improve on but with the gritty foundation these girls have, the way they play for each other, and as long as we continue to stay Christ centered, the sky is the limit with this group.”

Up Next

On Friday, the Firestorm will host a triple header that features three teams.Arizona Christian will start the day at 11:00 am against Taylor again.Taylor will face College of Idaho in the second game.Then the Firestorm will play College of Idaho.The three games are currently scheduled to be played at Dream City School but ACU is looking into getting the games moved to Sandra Day O’Connor High School.

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