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Hope International University

SB vs LSU
5
La Sierra LSU
8
Winner Hope International HIU 1-0
La Sierra LSU
5
Final
8
Hope International HIU
1-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
La Sierra LSU 0 0 1 1 0 0 3 5 11 2
Hope International HIU 2 4 1 0 0 1 X 8 12 1

W: Gr. Craig (1-0) L: D. Pfennig (0-2) S: K. Maaske (1)

0
La Sierra LSU 1-5
9
Winner Hope International HIU 2-0
La Sierra LSU
1-5
0
Final
9
Hope International HIU
2-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
La Sierra LSU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Hope International HIU 9 0 0 0 X 9 9 0

W: K. Maaske (1-0) L: H. Dobbs (1-1)

Game Recap: Softball | | Robert Nilsen

Maaske No-No and Save Powers Royals to Sweep of Golden Eagles

Fullerton, CA - The No. 17 Hope International University softball team (2-0) opened their 2025 season with a doubleheader sweep of the La Sierra University Golden Eagles winning the first game 8-5 and then the second 9-0 in a five inning game on Monday afternoon at Fullerton College in Fullerton, CA.

Game 1:
Alexis Galvan got the start and pitched 3 2/3 innings allowing two runs, one earned on four hits while walking one and striking out one. Grace Craig (1-0) picked up the win in relief pitching 3 innings allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out one and walking one. Kaitlyn Maaske picked up the save in her first appearance for the Royals getting the final out. Asia Chacon, Amanda Esquivel and Vivian Little led the Royals with RBIs each.

Galvan put the Golden Eagles down in order to start the first while the Royals offense immediately got to work in the bottom half. With runners on the corners and one down Samantha Villanueva delivered an RBI infield single to put the Royals up 1-0. Two batters later Little lifted a sac fly to center as the Royals took a 2-0 lead. The Royals then broke open the game in the bottom of the second as Chacon got things started with a sac fly to increase the lead to 3-0. Sarah Reisler then ripped an RBI single to right field to make it 4-0. Three baters later Esquivel unloaded a two run triple to center field to give the Royals a commanding 6-0 lead. 

The Golden Eagles looked for a response as they pushed across a run in the top of the third to make it 6-1. The Royals answered right back in the bottom of the third as they loaded the bases with nobody out and drove across another run on a Chacon sac fly to make it 7-1. The Golden Eagles would then get another run in the top of the fourth to make it 7-2. The Royals then picked up another run in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI groundout by Little to push their lead to 8-2.

The Royals looked to close out the game in the top of the seventh but the Golden Eagles had other ideas as they made it 8-5 with two outs. Maaske then entered the game in relief with the tying run at the plate and induced a groundout to pick up the save and seal an 8-5 win.

Game 2:
Maaske (1-0) got the start and threw a no hitter over 5 innings in her first career start while walking one and striking out three. Emma McCraw and Little led the Royals with two RBIs each.

Maaske continued where she left in game one retiring the side in order in the top of the first while the Royals blew open the game in the bottom half. The Royals batted through the whole line up with Chacon leading things off by crushing her first home run of the year over the left field wall to make it 1-0. The Royals then put two runners on with one out for Esquivel who ripped an RBI double to left to make it 2-0. Alyssa Castaneda then dropped an RBI single into left field for a 3-0 lead. That chased the Golden Eagles starter from the game but the Royals kept firing on all cylinders as Karlie Bilbrey delivered an RBI infield single before a bases loaded walk by Natalie Corrales made it 5-0. Two batters later Little and McCraw delivered back to back two run doubles to give the Royals a commanding 9-0 lead.

Maaske then went back to the circle and shutdown the Golden Eagles working around a hit batter in the top of the second and fourth and a walk in the top of the third to keep the Golden Eagles off the board and hitless. The Golden Eagles then had one last chance to extend the game in the top of the fifth by Maaske retired the side in order getting a groundout to end the game as she seal a 5 inning no hit 9-0 run rule win. 

 

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