Flames fall short in AZ

PHOENIX, Ariz. - The Flames lost two of three contests to Arizona Christian Friday and Saturday in Phoenix. 

Game one was a close game until one big inning imploded on the Flames. 

Bethesda gave up an early run to the Firestorm but took the lead in the fourth. After two singles to lead off the inning, Mario Gonzalez drove in one with a single of his own. After two failed attempts to push more runs across, Raul Abundis drove a two-out double to right center to give the Flames a 3-1 lead. 

They would squander that lead in the fifth allowing two unearned runs in the fifth to make the game 3-3. 

ACU would put the game away in the sixth. With runners on first and second and one out, ACU drove a ball into the right-center gap. Kevin Maxey dove and had the ball glance off his glove leading to two runs. The almost fantastic play would have ended the frame as the Firestorm runners were running on the play. When the side was finally retired  the Firestorm had pushed 13 runs across. 

The Flames fought back in the second game of the series. 

Nathan Munoz would give the Flames the early 1-0 advantage in the third with a RBI-double scoring courtesy runner Andres Wright. 

ACU would take the lead back in the fourth with a two-run home run to left. 

Nathan Munoz would come through again for the Flames delivering a two-out single scoring Ryan McPhillips and tying the game at two. 

The Flames would give up an unearned run in the sixth to make it 3-2 Firestorm. 

In the eighth, the Flames would rally. Daniel Arellano got things going with a one out single. Adrian Flores doubled to left-center scoring punch rubber Andres Wright tying the game at three. Mario Gonzalez singled to put runners on the corner, and Daniel Gutierrez put the Flames ahead with a sacrifice fly to right. 

Closer DJ Gunderson would come on to notch the two inning save to secure the win. 

Flames starter Benjamin Lopez turned in his second consecutive quality start throwing seven innings, allowing two earned runs, with one walk and one strikeout on only 73 pitches picking up the win. 

In the rubber match the Flames would go down early from a Firestorm two-run home run in the first. 

In the fourth the Firestorm would add on. After a pop out and a bunt single, Flames starter Ryan Olley induced what looked like the inning-ending double play. A fielding error would keep the inning alive, and the Firestorm would take advantage with three strait hits extending the lead to 6-0. 

The Flames would add one back in the fifth with a Daniel Arellano triple. 

That score would remain until the seventh when the Flames would make things interesting. 

Pinch-hitter Benjamin Lopez got it started with a double, and Nathan Munoz followed with a single. Alex Rodriguez drove a single to left to make it 6-2. After a strikeout, Adrian Flores drove Munoz in with a sacrifice fly. Mario Gonzalez made it 6-4 with a RBI-single and Daniel Gutierrez put the tying run on first when he was hit by the pitch. The rally would fall short when a ground out to third ended the game. 

On the series Nathan Munoz led the way offensively going 6-13 with two runs scored, one double, and two runs batted in. Adrian Flores (4-9, two runs scored, two doubles and two runs batted in) and Mario Gonzalez (5-12, one run scored and two runs batted in) also contributed offensively in the series. 

The Flames are now 19-15 on the season and travel to The Masters University on Tuesday April 11. The game is available with a live video feed at: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/tmu/