ORANGE, Calif. – Colby Moran drove in three runs, and Isaiah Lane and Nathan Estrada knocked in two apiece as the Hope International baseball team won 8-2 over Chapman on a rain-soaked evening at W.O. Hart Park on Tuesday evening.
Lane homered for the third time in four games to move into a tie for the team lead with five.
Estrada has collected eight of his season total 10 RBI over the last six games, while Moran leads the GSAC with 44 RBI.
The Royals have made a habit of pouncing on teams early, and they did so again against the Panthers.
After David Shackelford and Lane drew back-to-back walks in the first, Moran drove both in on an opposite field double.
HIU made it 3-0 in the second following a Spencer Davis sacrifice fly, scoring Matias Nolasco, who doubled and moved to third on a balk.
The Royals increased the lead to 4-0 in the third as Lane led off the inning with a home run. HIU added a run in the fifth and three more in the ninth. Estrada singled in Davis and Ivan Barragan in the ninth. After stealing third base, Estrada came home on Lane's infield grounder.
Seven Royals pitchers combined to strike out 15 Panthers. James Williams started and went 2.0 scoreless innings. William Aycock earned the win after striking out three in his 2.0 innings of work. Matt Wurmlinger, Jayson Thomas and Logan Long each threw a scoreless inning, with Wurmlinger fanning the side in the seventh.
HIU scored four runs off Chapman starter Colin Godfrey.
The Royals take a break from action this weekend and return to the diamond on Tuesday, April 7 at home against Bethesda. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
