LEWISTON, Idaho – Hope International issued six walks, hit three batters and committed a costly error in a 10-0, run-rule setback to No. 4 Lewis-Clark State in the 2026 NAIA Baseball Championship Opening Round, presented by Avista, on Tuesday at Harris Field.
The Royals must now win three straight games to advance to the Avista College World Series for the third straight year.
HIU fell behind 2-0 in the second as an infield fielding error allowed Bryce Johnson to get aboard to lead off the inning. HIU starting pitcher Jake Thrift then walked and hit the next two Warrior batters to load the bases. Sam Weber slashed a two-RBI single to put the Royals in an early hole.
Thrift, who set down the side in the first and third innings, did not last beyond the fourth inning for his second straight start. He allowed a leadoff double to Johnson, followed by an RBI triple to Jackson Reed. Weber knocked in Reed with a sacrifice fly for the 4-0 advantage.
Cade Westerlund followed with an RBI single down the left field line, scoring Noah Weintraub, who had walked earlier in the inning. Thrift exited after 3.1 innings, allowing four hits and five runs (four earned) with two walks.
HIU reliever Cooper Bagby walked the first two batters he faced to start the fourth. Tyler Tilton entered in hopes of extinguishing the threat, but hit Izzy Madariaga and Johnson with pitches, the latter bringing in Brandon Nguyen for LCSC's sixth run. Reed laced a two-RBI double to extend the lead to 8-0, and Weintraub notched a sacrifice fly for the ninth run.
The Warriors made it 10-0 in the seventh after posting back-to-back singles to put runners at the corners, followed by Weintraub's RBI groundout.Â
HIU managed just two hits off LCSC starter Mason Goodson, who struck out five in a 98-pitch effort. He moved to 7-1 on the season. Thrift fell to 6-2.
The No. 3 seed Royals face fourth-seeded Keiser (Fla.) in an elimination game on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. A win for HIU would set up a rematch with Lewis-Clark State at 6:00 p.m.
