REDDING, Calif. – Hope International baseball scored 16 runs in back-to-back games to commence the 2026 season, as the fourth-ranked Royals swept Simpson on Friday.

The Royals won game one 16-6 and took a 16-4 victory in the nightcap. HIU slugged four home runs – two by Matthew Pinal – and roped eight extra base hits in total as part of a 15-hit game one attack. HIU pounded out 14 more hits in game two with newcomer Royce Clayton enjoying a 4-for-4, three-RBI performance.

Josh Landry and Franky Lopez logged five innings apiece on the mound to pick up the wins.

Game 1 – Hope International 16, Simpson 6

The Royals wasted no time staking Landry to a 5-0 lead in the first inning.  Pinal unloaded a three-run shot to bring in David Allen and David Shackelford, who had singled and walked, respectively. Colby Moran and Matias Nolasco followed with back-to-back doubles, and Spencer Davis delivered a two-out RBI single for the fifth run.

The Royals scored at least one run in each of the seven innings. Pinal homered for the second time in as many at-bats in the second inning, a two-run shot that put the Royals up 7-0.

Eddie Cotto cranked a two-run homer as part of a four-run third inning. Shackelford hit a solo homer in the fifth.

Pinal finished the game 2-for-2 with two walks and five RBI. Shackelford scored four times in addition to going 2-for-3 at the plate. Allen was 2-for-3 in his Royals debut, and Davis posted a pair of hits as well.

Landry gave up three runs – although only one was earned - scattering six hits with six strikeouts.

Game 2 – Hope International 16, Simpson 4

The Royals romped to a 12-0 lead after three innings to give Lopez more than enough run support.

Allen led off the game with a double, and Pinal knocked him in with a run-scoring two-bagger. Simpson pitcher Daniel Aceto walked the bases loaded, and the Royals scored two on Clayton's RBI single, with the second run coming around due to a Red Hawk error.

Armed with a 3-0 lead, the Royals tacked on five more in the second. Moran delivered a two-RBI single, and Nolasco brought home Pinal, who also had singled, with a base knock of his own. Clayton punched in Moran with another single, and Davis scored pinch runner Hunter Essang with a sacrifice fly.

The Royals were aided by 10 Simpson errors, which resulted in eight of the 16 runs being unearned.

Lopez allowed four runs in his five innings of work, did not walk a batter and struck out five. Raffael Chiarella and Logan Edgell each tossed a scoreless inning.

HIU returns to action on Saturday with another doubleheader against Simpson, with first pitch scheduled for 11:00 a.m.