Benedictine University Mesa punched its ticket to the GSAC Conference Tournament Championship game with an 8–7 victory over Arizona Christian University on Tuesday, surviving a dramatic, nine-inning battle filled with momentum swings and late-game pressure.
Arizona Christian jumped out early, plating two runs in the top of the first inning without the benefit of an extra-base hit. Zack Blair opened the game with a single and stolen base, and a series of walks—including an RBI walk by Joey Genduso—brought home the first run. Ty Gillespie added a sacrifice fly to give the Firestorm a 2–0 edge.
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The Redhawks answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning. Despite two strikeouts, Benedictine Mesa capitalized on an Arizona Christian error and a hit-by-pitch, setting the stage for a clutch two-out, two-run single by
Christian Ramos to tie the game at 2–2.
After trading scoreless innings, Arizona Christian regained control in the fourth. Reese Vassar doubled to right to spark the rally, and a defensive miscue in right field allowed the go-ahead run to score. Noah Manasan followed with a two-run single as the Firestorm surged ahead 5–2.
Benedictine Mesa refused to fade, scoring twice in the fifth to pull within one.
Ben Schnurman delivered an RBI single, and another unearned run crossed the plate following a throwing error to make it a 5–4 contest.
The decisive momentum swing came in the sixth inning. Singles by
Jonas Dyas and
Javier Rochin set the table, and
Anthony Setticasi drove in the tying run on a fielder's choice. Moments later,
Jack Moore lined an RBI single to left field, giving the Redhawks a 6–5 advantage.
Arizona Christian answered again in the seventh. Andrew Ivy crossed the plate on Vassar's RBI double down the left-field line, tying the game at 6–6 and keeping the Firestorm's championship hopes alive.
The eighth inning proved pivotal.
Tyler Jackson's leadoff single and a walk put pressure on the Firestorm defense, and Benedictine Mesa capitalized fully. A throwing error by the catcher allowed Jackson to score, and a passed ball shortly thereafter brought home another run, giving the Redhawks an 8–6 cushion.
Arizona Christian mounted a final charge in the ninth as Ivy doubled and scored on Vassar's second RBI hit of the night. With the tying run on base, Benedictine Mesa closed the door, striking out the final batter to seal the one-run victory.
