May 15, 2024

By UBC Communications

LEWISTON, IDAHO – Jared Anderson played hero with a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth-inning to lift the No. 3 seed Arizona Christian Firestorm to a come-from-behind 8-7 victory over the No. 4 seed UBC Thunderbirds, to close out the Lewiston Bracket in the opening round of the NAIA Championship Wednesday night.

With the loss, UBC’s season comes to an end.

The Firestorm, who with the win punched their ticket to the 2024 NAIA Baseball World Series, found themselves trailing 6-0 after the first two innings but began clawing back and eventually tied the proceedings at 7-7 thanks to a three-run, eighth inning which set the table for the ninth inning dramatics.

The T-Birds advanced to game eight vs the Firestorm thanks to an 8-3 game seven win over Lewis-Clark State earlier in the afternoon and didn't show any fatigue early in jumping out to a 6-0 advantage after the top of the second inning. All thanks in large part to a Trent Lenihan two-RBI double in the top of the first and bookended by an Aaron Marsh two-run home run down the left-field line in the top of the second stanza.

Arizona Christian's comeback was powered for the most part by a combined six RBIs from Marques Titialii who counted four and Kane Kiaunis who provided two, beginning with a Kiaunis double to centre field that scored the Firestorm's first run of the game in the bottom of the fifth frame to make it 6-1. Arizona Christian would score three more runs in the bottom of the seventh beginning with Titialii's RBI single to left field and ending with a Kiaunis ground out to third base to score another, bringing the Firestorm within shouting distance, trailing 6-4.

Marshs' third RBI of the contest came in the top of the eighth inning when his single through the right side scored Hilo Yamamoto to offer some brief breathing room and a three-run lead for UBC at 7-4 but that was short lived. Titialii stepped up in the bottom half of the inning to deliver a sobering three-run home run to left field off T-Birds righty Adam Khan which tied the game at 7-7.

Arizona Christian would complete the comeback with right fielder Jared Anderson coming up to the plate with the game on his bat in the bottom of the ninth and coming through in the clutch by taking an Oliver Duthie offering over the fence in centre field to secure the win for the Firestorm.

UBC starter James Brock went 6 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits, three runs and striking out six before giving way to Adam Khan and Oliver Duthie who each came in for an inning. The Firestorm meanwhile tested their pitching depth in relying on six different hurlers, beginning with Eastyn Culp who lasted two innings, giving up nine hits and six runs while it all ended with Jackson Hohensee earning the win after striking out two T-Birds in the top of the ninth inning.

With the victory Arizona Christian advances to the 2024 NAIA Baseball World Series that runs from May 24 through 31 at Lewis-Clark State College. Meanwhile the Thunderbirds season comes to a close in heartbreaking fashion but the squad can leave with their heads held high after a terrific all-around season saw them compile an overall record of 34-21, while managing to progress to the final game of the Lewiston Bracket in the opening round of the 2024 NAIA Championship.