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Hope International University

SB vs ACU
Liza Rosales
3
Arizona Christian (AZ) ACU 26-17
9
Winner Hope International HIU 32-10
Arizona Christian (AZ) ACU
26-17
3
Final
9
Hope International HIU
32-10
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Arizona Christian (AZ) ACU 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 3 7 0
Hope International HIU 2 2 4 0 1 0 X 9 8 1

W: Puente, Allie (22-8) L: S. Smith (14-13)

5
Winner Arizona Christian (A ACU 27-17
2
Hope International HIU 32-11
Winner
Arizona Christian (A ACU
27-17
5
Final
2
Hope International HIU
32-11
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Arizona Christian (A ACU 0 0 3 0 0 0 2 5 12 0
Hope International HIU 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 10 0

W: D. Herrera (9-3) L: Craig, Grace (8-3)

Game Recap: Softball | | Robert Nilsen

McCraw Leads No. 14 Royals to Split with Firestorm

Fullerton, CA - The No. 14 Hope International University softball team (32-11, 10-8 GSAC) clinched a spot in the GSAC Tournament as they split a doubleheader with the Arizona Christian Firestorm winning 9-3 before falling 5-2 on Friday afternoon at home at Bastanchury Park in Fullerton, CA..

Game 1:
Allie Puente (22-8) picked up the win throwing a complete game 7 innings allowing three runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out three. Emma McCraw led the Royals offense going 2-for-2 with 3 RBIs..

Allie worked out of trouble in the top of the first as Sarah Reisler made a huge play in centerfield to nail a potential Firestorm run at the plate and keep the game scoreless. The Royals then jumped on top in the bottom of the first as they loaded the bases with one out. Samanth Villanueva then forced in a run on a hit by pitch to make it 1-0. Kayla Stanley then followed with a sac fly to make it 2-0. After Allie put the Firestorm down in order in the top of the second the Royals struck again as Reisler started a two out rally with a single. Two more singles followed as Jazzy Smith delivered an RBI single to increase the Royals lead to 3-0. McCraw then ripped an RBI single to increase the Royals lead to 4-0 and force the Firestorm starter from the game.

The Firestorm rallied in the top of the third as they took advantage of several infield hits to pull within 4-3 and continued to threaten with runners on first and second and one out. Allie didn't fold as she got a flyout and a popout to end the threat. The Royals then broke open the game in the bottom of the third as Ariana Coronado launched her second home run of the year to left center to make it 5-3. The Royals then loaded the bases with two outs and forced in another run on a bases loaded to Smith to make it 6-3. McCraw then ripped a two run double to centerfield to increase the lead to 8-3 but the inning came to end as another runner was thrown out trying to advance to third. 

The Firestorm continued to battle but Allie held them off the board while the Royals scored again in the bottom of the fifth inning as Kassie Puente snapped an eight game hitless streak by crushing her first home run of the year to left field to put the Royals up 9-3. The Firestorm had one last chance in the seventh but Allie wasn't about to allow more runs as she worked around a walk and a single to get two flyouts to end the game and seal a 9-3 win.

Game 2:
Grace Craig (8-3) took the loss pitching 2 2/3 innings allowing three runs on eight hits. McCraw led the Royals offense going 1-for-3 with 2 RBIs.

Craig worked out of trouble in the top of the first and top of the second but the Firestorm offense wasn't to be denied as they struck for three runs in the top of the third to take a 3-0 lead. Allie Puente then came in from the bullpen and got a groundout to end the inning. The Royals quickly got to work as Reisler and Asia Chacon started with a single and a double to put runners on second an third and nobody out. Two batters later McCraw launched a two run double to centerfield to pull the Royals within 3-2.

From their Allie shutdown the Firestorm while the Royals searched for the tying run. Their best opportunity came in the bottom of the sixth as a walk and a single put runners on first and second with one out. Two batters later Chacon ripped a single but Katrina Rodriguez was gunned down at the plate trying to score for the third out as the Royals continued to trail 3-2. The Firestorm would then add two runs in the top of the seventh to extend their lead to 5-2. The Royals tried to answer in the bottom half but were unable to rally as they fell 5-2.

The Royals wrap up GSAC regular season action at home as they host OUAZ on Saturday, April 20 with a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 PM at Bastanchury Park in Fullerton, CA. Seniors will be honored before the game beginning at 11:30 AM.
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