LEWISTON, Idaho – James Williams and Franky Lopez delivered Herculean performances on the mound, but unfortunately for Hope International, the 2026 season ended in heartbreaking fashion on Wednesday at Harris Field. Top-seeded Lewis-Clark State walked off the Royals, 3-2, in 10 innings on to capture the Lewiston Regional in the NAIA Baseball Opening Round, presented by Avista.
Earlier in the afternoon, the Royals defeated No. 4 seed Keiser (Fla.) 10-0 in eight innings to set up the showdown with the host Warriors.
Williams starred in the must-win contest against the Seahawks, tossing his first career complete game shutout. Lopez pitched into extra innings against the Warriors, but was unable to protect a 2-1 lead going into the bottom of the 10th. LCSC produced four hits in the inning and the requisite two runs to end HIU's bid to reach the Avista College World Series for the third straight year.
Game 1 – Hope International 10, Keiser (Fla.) 0 (8 innings)
The Royals pounded out 15 hits against four Seahawks pitchers.
Royce Clayton got HIU on the board in the second inning with a sacrifice fly, scoring Nathan Estrada with the first run. The Royals chased Keiser starter Jake Molloy after one-plus innings, and kept the pressure on reliever Carson Hawkes.
HIU added a run in both the second and third innings to increase the lead to 3-0, getting an RBI single from Eddie Cotto and a solo home run from Clayton. It was Clayton's team-best ninth roundtripper of the year.Â
The Royals broke the game open in the fifth with four runs against Hawkes and the third Seahawk pitcher Seth Broadwell. David Allen drew a bases loaded walk for the fourth HIU run, and Spencer Davis had an RBI groundout for the 5-0 lead. Clayton's base hit up the middle brought in Estrada and Cotto to increase the advantage to 7-0.
Colby Moran knocked in Isaiah Lane with a sacrifice fly in the sixth, and the Royals tacked on two more runs in the eighth to invoke the run-rule victory.
With Moran and Cotto aboard via walks, Allen ripped a triple to right center to clear the bases for the final two runs.
Williams retired the final eight Seahawks, and struck out the side in the sixth inning. Keiser's best opportunity to score came in the second inning, but Williams posted an inning-ending strikeout on Karson Nadal with runners on second and third.
The right-hander tossed a five-hitter with one walk and six strikeouts on 96 pitches. He improved to 5-1 on the season.
Game 2 – Lewis-Clark State 3, Hope International 2 (10 innings)
The Warriors scored twice in the bottom of the 10th inning to escape with a 3-2 victory. Lopez threw 126 pitches in a gritty performance.Â
Two infield singles put the Royals in a tough no-out situation to begin the 10th. Lopez got the lead runner at third on an attempted sacrifice, but Jackson Reed's double down the right field line brought in Izzy Madariaga with the tying run.Â
The Royals intentionally walked Noah Weintraub to load the bases, and Lopez fanned Ryan Prescott for the second out. But Cade Westerlund pounced on Lopez's first pitch in the next at-bat, delivering a single through the left side and plating Bryce Johnson for the winning run.
HIU took a 2-1 lead in the top half of the 10th. Matias Nolasco doubled to lead off the frame, and pinch runner Estrada moved to third on a failed pickoff attempt. Allen's single to center scored Estrada for the go-ahead run.
Lopez set down 12 straight Warriors from the fifth through eighth innings. Lewis-Clark State reliever Jackson Cloud was nearly unhittable, as he allowed just one hit and struck out six in 5.2 innings pitched. Cloud left the game prior to the start of the 10th due to an apparent injury, and the Royals scored the go-ahead run against Joey Estrada.
LCSC took a 1-0 lead in the first on three singles. The Royals tied the score in the fourth as Lane singled, stole second, and came home on Moran's base hit.
Moran finished his Royals career with 129 RBI, third in program history.
