POMONA, Calif. – Junior pitcher Jake Thrift tossed a gem and the Hope International baseball team generated some late inning offense in a 4-1 victory over Cal Poly Pomona on Friday at Scolinos Field.

Thrift allowed just an unearned run in 7.2 innings, scattering four hits, walking two and striking out five in a 106-pitch effort. 

The southpaw yielded just one hit and two walks through the first five innings to the Broncos. Cal Poly Pomona did not get a runner into scoring position until the sixth as Daniel Ruiz stole second base. But Thrift retired Tyler Garcia on a fly out to remain unscathed.

HIU broke through with a two-out rally in the seventh to take a 2-0 lead. David Shackelford singled and Matias Nolasco walked to put a pair of runners aboard. Colby Moran roped a double to left center off reliever Matthew Leyva that cleared the bases.

The Broncos halved their deficit in the bottom half. Ashton Romero singled and moved to second as the left fielder misplayed the ball. A fly out and ground out advanced Romero two bases for the unearned run. 

The Royals struck against another Bronco reliever in the eighth for key insurance runs. Andrew Dusablon plunked Evan Jaquez with a pitch and Eddie Cotto walked. With one out, Shackelford laced a single to left field to score Jaquez. HIU made it 4-0 on Moran's fielder's choice grounder which plated Cotto.

Thrift opened the eighth getting back-to-back strikeouts, but his day ended when Ruiz singled with two outs. Justin Allen induced a Tyler Blade groundout to preserve the three-run lead. 

James Williams mopped up with a scoreless ninth, striking out a pair, including Arturo Rodriguez looking to end the game. Williams earned the save, while Thrift got the win to improve to 2-0.

Cal Poly Pomona starting pitcher Dylan Esquivel logged 5.0 scoreless innings, allowing four hits and fanning six. The Royals had the bases loaded against Esquivel with two outs in the first, but could not cash in the opportunity.

Shackelford finished 3-for-4, while Moran was 1-for-3 with three RBI. Nolasco and Henry Borjas also contributed two hits.

HIU continues its three-game series against Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday, hosting the Broncos at 2:00 p.m.