FULLERTON – Colby Moran drove in three runs to lead the Hope International baseball team to a 6-2 victory over Whittier College in its home opener on Tuesday at Amerige Park.

Five Royals pitchers got work in as part of a designated "staff" day, with three tossing two scoreless innings apiece.

David Shackelford went 2-for-4 at the plate with a walk and two runs scored.

Whittier took a 1-0 lead in the first as Matt Mecate hit a home run to right field. But the Royals wasted no time in responding, putting up three runs in the bottom half.

The Royals loaded the bases via two singles and a hit by pitch. Moran roped a two-run double to right center to score Royce Clayton and Shackelford for a 2-1 lead. Matthew Ziroli singled with two outs, scoring Moran and putting the Royals up 3-1.

Adan Young tossed a pair of shutout innings, allowing just one hit and a walk. He earned the win to move to 1-0.

The Poets collected their second run in the fifth as Joe Plaskett homered to left center with two outs.

William Aycock and James Williams closed the door on the Poets, spinning four consecutive zeroes. Aycock yielded two hits, walking none and striking out three in his two innings of work. Williams fanned five Poets in a 49-pitch effort.

The Royals added two runs in the seventh as Shackelford walked and Matias Nolasco singled to put runners at the corners with no outs. Shackelford came home on a wild pitch for the fourth HIU run, and Moran plated pinch runner Hunter Essang with a run-scoring base hit.

Aycock struck out the side in the eighth – including Jackson Brummett with a pair of runners aboard.

HIU increased the lead to 6-2 in the bottom half as Nolasco's grounder to first scored Eddie Cotto.

Williams faced a first and second scenario in the ninth, but got Plaskett and Jack Lee to strike out for the finishing touches on the 6-2 win.

HIU travels to Cal Poly Pomona on Friday for a 1:00 p.m. game.