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Hope International University

HIU vs MC
Liza Rosales
5
Menlo MC 7-27
25
Winner Hope International HIU 25-7
Menlo MC
7-27
5
Final
25
Hope International HIU
25-7
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Menlo MC 0 0 1 0 0 2 2 0 0 5 10 1
Hope International HIU 5 8 2 4 3 2 1 0 X 25 23 1

W: Martin, Connor (6-1) L: A. Tellez (1-1)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Robert Nilsen

Cruz's Record Breaking Performance Leads Royals To Big Victory Over Oaks

Fullerton, CA – The Hope International University baseball team (25-7, 14-5 GSAC) took down the Menlo College Oaks 25-5 to kick off their final GSAC home series on Friday afternoon at Duane Winters Field in Fullerton, CA.

Connor Martin (6-1) picked up the win pitching 6 innings allowing three runs, two earned on three hits while walking two and striking out seven. JJ Cruz led the Royals offense going 4-for-5 with 8 RBIs including two home runs.

The Royals jumped all over the Oaks from the start as Robert Mattei got the scoring started in the first by dropping a one out RBI single just in front of the centerfielder to make it 1-0. Cruz then followed with a single up the middle to make it 2-0. Then two batters later Matthew Pinal unloaded a bases clearing double to center to push the Royals lead to 5-0 after one. The Royals continued to pile on the offense as they put up a bigger number in the second. The Royals started the inning with back to back doubles as Max Jung-Goldberg made it 6-0. Then two batters later Cruz launched a two run shot down the right field line to make it 8-0. Two more doubles followed as Matthew Pinal delivered to make it 9-0. Chase Hanson then delivered an RBI single before Alex Moreno crushed a three run bomb down the right field line to push the Royals lead to 13-0 in the second.

The Oaks struck back in the top of the third as they got their first hit and took advantage of an error to make it 13-1. The Royals continued to score though as Branden Chun-Ming crushed a two out home run down the left field line and the Royals would tack on one more run on an error to make it 15-1. The Royals offense continued to click in the fourth as Cruz ripped a one out bases loaded two run double down the right field line to make it 17-1. Chun-Ming then followed with a sac fly before Pinal delivered an infield RBI single to push the Royals lead to 19-1. In the fifth it was the Cruz show again as he cranked a three run home run, his second of the game to put the Royals up 22-1. The eight RBIs by Cruz also set a new Royals single game record. 

The Oaks would break through again in the top of the sixth on a two run home run but Martin came right back to strike out the next three hitters as the Royals led 22-3. The Royals once again added to their lead in the bottom half. With the bases loaded and one out Wilson Dunn delivered an RBI single through the left side to make it 23-3. Then Alejandro Torres delivered an RBI groundout to make it 24-3. The Oaks answered with two runs in the top of seventh to make it 24-5 but the Royals bats answered as Ryan Lamastra hit his first home run of the season to give the Royals a 25-5 lead. There were no more runs from that point as Seth Hoetker pitched a scoreless eighth and Noah Stevens got out of a bases loaded jam in the ninth as the Royals emerged victorious.

The Royals wrap up their three game series against Menlo with a doubleheader beginning on Saturday, April 14 at 11:00 AM at Duane Winters Field in Fullerton, CA.
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