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Hope International University

BSB VS JESSUP
Liza Rosales
10
Winner Hope International HOPE INT 39-14
8
Central Methodist (M CENTRAL 44-10
Winner
Hope International HOPE INT
39-14
10
Final
8
Central Methodist (M CENTRAL
44-10
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Hope International HOPE INT 2 0 4 0 2 0 1 1 0 10 10 3
Central Methodist (M CENTRAL 1 1 0 1 1 3 0 1 0 8 10 3

W: Drury, Justin (9-0) L: S. Escobar (9-2) S: Ordorica, Steven (3)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Robert Nilsen

No. 10 Royals Advance to NAIA Opening Round Championship With 10-8 Win Over No. 8 Eagles

Fayette, MO – The No. 10 Hope International University baseball team (39-14) continued play at the NAIA Opening Round with a 10-8 win over the hosts and No. 8 Central Methodist University Eagles on Tuesday evening at Central Methodist University in Fayette, MO.

Justin Drury (9-0) picked up his ninth win as he threw 5 innings allowing three runs, four earned on six hits while striking out 9. Steven Ordorica picked up the save pitching 3 innings allowing one unearned run on one hit while striking out four. Derek Sims led the Royals offense going 1-for-4 with 4 RBIs including a two run home run. 

The Royals offense got things started in the top of the first as Alec Arnone delivered a two out RBI single to make it 1-0. Dean Toigo then followed with a single to right field to increase the Royals lead to 2-0. Drury then allowed one run while also getting three strikeouts in the bottom of the first as the Eagles made it 2-1. The Eagles would tie the game 2-2 in the bottom of the second but Drury would limit the damage getting two more strikeouts. The Royals then seized back control in the top of the third as they started the inning with a single and walk. JJ Cruz then lined an RBI single to right to put the Royals back up 3-2. Two batters later Toigo ripped an RBI single to center to increase the Royals lead to 4-2. Derek Sims then forced an error to drive in two more runs to put the Royals up 6-2.

Drury then put the Eagles down in order in the bottom of the third but they kept scrapping as they pulled a run back in the bottom of the fourth to make it 6-3. Drury then induced a groundout to limit the damage. The Royals would answer in the top of the fifth as Derek Sims launched a two run bomb his second homer in as many days to put the Royals up 8-3. The Eagles kept coming though as they made it 8-4 in the bottom of the fifth but once again Drury came up big when he needed to striking out the Eagles best hitter looking to limit the damage with two runners in scoring position. That didn't stop the Eagles as they rallied again in the bottom of the sixth to pull within 8-7. Boom Ward who had come in from the bullpen then limited the damage getting a huge flyout to end the inning. 

The Royals would then get some insurance runs as Mario Tostado worked a bases loaded walk in the top of the seventh to increase the Royals lead to 9-7. The Eagles continued to threaten as they loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh with one out but Ordorica who had come in from the bullpen got two huge strikeouts to keep the Eagles off the board. Cruz then increased the Royals lead with a sac fly in the top of the eighth to make it 10-7. The Eagles didn't give up as they took advantage of an error to pull within 10-8 in the bottom of the eighth but once again Ordorica got out of it getting a ground and a strikeout to end the inning. The Eagles then got the first batter aboard in the bottom of the ninth but Ordorica slammed the door inducing a double play and then striking out the final batter to seal a 10-8 win.

The Royals now advance to the NAIA Opening Round Championship of the Fayette Bracket as they take on the winner of Central Methodist and Tabor on Wednesday, May 15 at 1:30 PM PT/3:30 PM CT.
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