TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona Christian opened a tight game with six runs in the middle innings and went on to earn a 9-1 victory over Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday in Tucson, Ariz. 

The game was the first of eight for SMSU (3-4-1) during its annual spring trip.

ACU (12-11), a NAIA school that won 32 games in 2012, used a strong pitching performance from left-hander Mike Lachapelle, who tossed eight innings, allowed six hits with nine strikeouts and one walk.  Lachapelle, a transfer from the University of New Mexico, defeated the University of Texas in 2010.

ACU, which finished with 15 hits, took an early 1-0 lead with a run in the first, before SMSU answered with a single run in the second as Elliot Serbus walked, stole second and came around to score on a run-scoring single by Jon Ellis.

The Firestorm then added single runs in the third and fourth inning to build a 3-1 lead after five innings of play, before putting the game away with two runs in the sixth and four runs in the seventh.

Travis McGlauflin (1-2) suffered the loss for SMSU allowing five runs, four earned on seven hits in 5.1 innings.  He struck out four batters, while walking two and hitting two.

Jordon Kontz finished with two hits to pace SMSU's six-hit attack.

Southwest Minnesota State returns to action tomorrow taking on Minot State for a doubleheader beginning at 3:30 p.m. CDT.