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Hope International University

BSB vs KWU
Spencer Farrin
5
Kansas Wesleyan KWU 48-12
11
Winner Hope International HIU 41-16
Kansas Wesleyan KWU
48-12
5
Final
11
Hope International HIU
41-16
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Kansas Wesleyan KWU 2 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 5 7 1
Hope International HIU 4 1 1 3 0 2 0 0 X 11 14 1

W: Rudd-Grow, David (2-2) L: B. Maddock (9-3) S: Landry, Josh (1)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Robert Nilsen

Royals Eliminate Kansas Wesleyan in First Ever Avista NAIA World Series Win

Lewiston, ID – For the first time in program history the No. 10 Hope International University baseball team (41-16) won a game at the Avista NAIA World Series as they eliminated eight seeded and No. 20 Kansas Wesleyan University Coyotes 11-5 on Saturday morning at Harris Field in Lewiston, ID. It was also the Royals first ever win at Harris Field.

David Rudd-Grow (2-2) got the start and picked up his second win pitching 5 1/3 innings allowing five runs on six hits while walking two and striking out six. Josh Landry picked up his first save pitching 3 2/3 shutout innings allowing just one hit while walking one and striking out two. Dean Toigo, Amari Bartee and Derek Sims led the Royals offense with each driving in two runs. 

It was a rocky start for the Royals as two batters into the game the Coyotes had a 2-0 lead with a runner on second and nobody out. Rudd-Grow regrouped though and limited the damage putting the next three Coyotes down in order to end the inning. The Royals offense then picked up their starter in the bottom of the first as they struck for a big inning. The Royals got a two out rally going with back to back singles before Sims ripped a two run double into the left field corner to tie the game 2-2. Ryan Maciel worked a walk before Ryan Lamastra forced a two run error as the Royals took a 4-2 lead.

Rudd-Grow then worked around an error in the top of the second to keep the Coyotes off the board while JJ Cruz launched his team leading 13th home run of the season in the bottom half to increase the Royals lead to 5-2. The Coyotes weren't done either as they struck for two runs in the top of the third to pull within 5-4. The Royals would get that run back in the bottom of the sixth as once again a two out rally led to an RBI single from Bartee to increase the Royals lead to 6-4. Rudd-Grow then shutdown the Coyotes in the top of the fourth while the Royals offense added to their lead in the bottom half. With two on and nobody out Toigo delivered a two run single up the middle to make it 8-4. Then later with one out Maciel continued his hot streak ripping an RBI double down the right field line to put the Royals ahead 9-4.

Rudd-Grow meanwhile continued to hold the Coyotes at bay working around a hit batter to retire the side in the top of the fifth. The Coyotes though would finally get another run in the top of the sixth on a solo homerun to pull within 9-5. Landry then came in from the bullpen to shutdown the potent Coyotes offense that had scored seven runs in the final two innings in their previous game. Landy shut the door picking up his first save while allowing just one hit and getting the final 11 outs to seal the Royals first ever World Series win. The Royals offense also tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth on a sac fly by Bartee and a two out RBI single by David Rivera as they won 11-5.

With the win the Royals stay alive and will take on the loser of Georgia Gwinett and Indiana Southeast on Monday, May 27 at 11:35 AM at Harris Field in Lewiston, ID.
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