FULLERTON – For the second straight day, the Hope International softball team earned a split in its doubleheader against Arizona Christian. The Royals defeated the Firestorm 3-1 in game one before dropping game two by a 4-0 score.
Lily Hernandez went 2-for-4 with two walks and Gabriela Holmes and Breanna Lucero drove in a run on the afternoon. Kaitlyn Maaske also picked up her second win of the series in a complete game effort.
The Royals handed Arizona Christian their first two losses in GSAC play as they finished the weekend 15-12 overall and 3-5 in conference. The Firestorm are now 22-6 and 10-2 in league action.
Game 1 – Hope International 3, Arizona Christian 1
Maaske scattered four hits and her only blemish was a Glory Estabrook solo home run in the third. She induced a double play grounder in the second and retired nine out of the last 10 Firestorm she faced to get the win, improving to 8-6 on the season.
The right-hander struck out six and walked just two.
Similar to Friday's game one, the Royals utilized a big fourth inning to gain the victory. Emma McCraw singled with one out and Chey Navarro doubled her over to third. Holmes plated McCraw with a sacrifice fly – and the throw to the plate squirted past the ACU catcher – which allowed Navarro to score all the way from second.
After Karlie Bilbrey singled to keep the inning going, Lucero raked a run-scoring double to right to put the Royals up 3-1.
Dayna Herrera took the loss for the Firestorm, falling to 9-3 on the season.
Game 2 – Arizona Christian 4, Hope International 0
Alyssa Grinstead continued her mastery of the Royal batting order as she pitched a complete game six-hitter. She tossed 10.1 scoreless innings in the series and was the winning pitcher in both Firestorm victories.
Vivian Little, Hernandez, McCraw, Holmes, Aliyah Sandoval and Natalie Corrales each produced one hit for HIU. The Royals had a runner in scoring position in the second through fifth innings, but were unable to generate any runs.
ACU scored a run in the third on an Elena Garcia sacrifice fly.
The Firestorm notched three runs in the fifth as Estabrook homered for the second straight game to lead off the frame. Pinch hitter Nikki Ward doubled as HIU starter Karlie Bilbrey exited following four-plus innings of work. Maaske replaced her in relief, and allowed RBI singles to Garcia and Herrera as ACU took a 4-0 lead.
Grinstead retired seven of the last eight Royal hitters to secure the victory as she improved to 7-3 on the season. Bilbrey was charged with all four runs as she dropped to 1-2 overall.
The Royals play a single game against Whitworth on Tuesday, March 24 at Bastanchury Park. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
