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Hope International University

BSB vs ACU
(C) Liza Rosales
4
Arizona Christian (AZ) ACU 16-5-1
11
Winner Hope International HIU 15-4
Arizona Christian (AZ) ACU
16-5-1
4
Final
11
Hope International HIU
15-4
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Arizona Christian (AZ) ACU 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 6 1
Hope International HIU 0 3 1 2 3 0 0 2 X 11 11 0

W: Seeley, Trey (5-0) L: F. Wierman (3-2)

4
Arizona Christian (A ACU 16-6-1
7
Winner Hope International HIU 16-4
Arizona Christian (A ACU
16-6-1
4
Final
7
Hope International HIU
16-4
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Arizona Christian (A ACU 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 4 3 0
Hope International HIU 0 0 0 1 0 6 X 7 8 3

W: Sato, Sakemi (2-0) L: J. Hohensee (0-1) S: Ward, Boom (3)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Robert Nilsen

Moran's Slam Powers No. 8 Royals to Sweep of No. 9 Firestorm

Fullerton, CA – The No. 8 Hope International University baseball team (16-4) opened up GSAC play with a doubleheader sweep of the No. 9 Arizona Christian University Firestorm as they won 11-4 and then came from behind to win 7-4 on Friday at home at Duane Winters Field in Fullerton, CA.

Game 1: 
Trey Seeley (5-0) picked up his fifth win pitching 7 innings allowing three runs on four hits while walking two and striking out a season high 13. Matthew Pinal led the Royals offense going 1-for-2 with 3 RBIs.

Seeley worked around a leadoff double to strikeout the next three batters and keep the Firestorm off the board in the top of the first. While Seeley continued to shutdown the Firestorm's bats the Royals offense came to life in the bottom of the second. Spencer Davis led off with a triple and then scored as Colby Moran ripped an RBI double down the right field line to make it 1-0. Amari Bartee then drove in a run on a fielder's choice before Pinal came through with a two out RBI single through the right side to put the Royals up 3-0.

The Firestorm took advantage of an inconsistent strike zone in the top of the third as they struck back on Seeley's only big missed pitch of the day as they tied the game 3-3 on a homerun. That's all Seeley would allow as he struck out the next batter to end the inning. The Royals then retook the lead in the bottom of the third as Trotter Boston unloaded his fifth home run of the year down the right field line to put the Royals up 4-3. The Royals then struck for two more runs in the bottom of the fourth as David Shackelford delivered an infield RBI single followed by a sac fly lineout by Pinal to make it 6-3.

The Firestorm looked for an answer but Seeley continued to deal getting two more strikeouts in the top of the fifth while the Royals offense continued to score. With two on and one out Moran delivered an RBI single down the left field line to make it 7-3 before Julian Francois ripped an RBI double past the diving Firestorm outfielder to increase the Royals lead to 9-3. Seeley then retired the next six Firestorm in order before giving way to Chaz McWilliams. McWilliams worked around a walk, single and a wild pitch allowing just one run while striking out three as the Firestorm made it 9-4. 

The Royals then struck again in the bottom of the eighth as they loaded the bases with three straight bunts for Pinal who delivered another sac fly followed by a fielder's choice by Josiah Chavez as they increased their lead to 11-4. Matthew Gonzalez then shutdown the Firestorm in the ninth working around a walk and a single to strikeout out three and seal an 11-4 win.

Game 2:
Matthew Pinal got the start and pitched two innings allowing four unearned runs on two hits while walking four and striking out three. Sakemi Sato (2-0) picked up the win in relief striking out the only batter he faced. Boom Ward picked up his third save pitching one no hit inning while striking out two. Moran led the Royals offense going 1-for-3 with a grand slam and 4 RBIs.

Pinal put the Firestorm down in order in the top of the first but then ran into trouble in the top of the second as the Firestorm took advantage of an error to load the bases. The Firestorm then struck for three runs without recording a hit as they made it 3-0. Pinal then induced a lineout to get out of the inning. The Firestorm then struck again in the top of the third as they took advantage of a series of miscues to take a 4-0. Gio Besio who had come in in relief then limited the damage by inducing a flyout to end the inning.  The Royals looked for an answer and finally found one in the bottom of the fourth as Bartee delivered a two out RBI single to make it 4-1. Besio meanwhile shutdown the Firestorm pitching 3 2/3 innings allowing just one hit while walking two and striking out four. Sato then came into the game with two outs in the top of the sixth getting a strikeout to end the inning after a Besio walk. 

The Royals offense then came to life with one out in the bottom of the sixth. Branden Chun-Ming delivered his first hit of the day to start the rally. Chavez and Francois then followed with back to back hits to make it 4-2. The Firestorm then brought in their closer who had six saves and a 0.66 ERA. That didn't stop the Royals though as they loaded the bases for Shackelford who delivered a sac fly to make it 4-3. Pinal then walked to reload them for Moran who crushed a grand slam to right field on the second pitch he saw to give the Royals their first lead at 7-4. Ward then retired the Firestorm in order in the top of the seventh to pick up the save and seal the win.

The Royals wrap up their GSAC series against Arizona Christian with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 8 beginning at 11:00 AM.
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