MESA, Ariz. – Hope International lost a tough extra inning affair in game one, but recovered to win by mercy rule in game two in a Thursday GSAC doubleheader at Benedictine Mesa on Thursday.
The Royals took a 5-4 lead in the eighth inning of game one, but the Redhawks scored twice in the bottom half for a walkoff 6-5 win. Game two featured the hitting exploits of Dejalei Visesio, who tied the single-game program record with seven RBI in an 11-3, five-inning rout.
Visesio homered twice in game two, becoming the first Royal since Skyler Mao in 2021 to post a multi-homer performance.
Emma McCraw also had a huge doubleheader, finishing 5-for-7 with five runs scored.
Game 1 – Benedictine Mesa 6, Hope International 5
Eight of the nine HIU starters posted at least one hit in a 10-hit attack, but the Redhawks overcame a 4-1 deficit to pull out the extra inning win.
HIU rolled to a 3-0 lead in the first on a Gabriela Holmes sacrifice fly, followed by RBI singles from Chey Navarro and Karlie Bilbrey.
The Royals added a run in the second as Jocelyn Aguilar led off with a single and eventually stole home.
Benedictine Mesa got on the board in the bottom half, plating a run on a double play ground ball.
Kaitlyn Maaske wiggled out of trouble in the third and fourth as the Redhawks had runners in scoring position. But Benedictine Mesa tied the score at 4-4 with a three-run fifth. The rally started as Jasleen Calderon got aboard on a leadoff error. Leiana Medrazo followed with a single and Alexa Rice slugged a three-run home run.
The two teams matched zeroes for the next two innings. With the international tiebreaker rule in effect, the Royals took a 5-4 lead in the eighth as Holmes singled to put runners at the corners. Navarro put a ball in play, allowing McCraw to score on a fielder's choice.
Shayla Young walked to start the bottom half of the eighth, putting two runners aboard. After a sacrifice bunt advanced both runners up a base, Annaleia Jenkins tripled to center to bring in the tying and winning runs.
Maaske took the loss, falling to 14-9 after allowing eight hits and six runs (three earned). Nancy Velez went all 8.0 innings for the Redhawks, surrendering 10 hits and five runs (four earned). She moved to 7-7 on the season.
Game 2 – Hope International 11, Benedictine Mesa 3 (5 innings)
The Royals stomped the Redhawks, scoring four runs in both the first and second innings to build a commanding lead.
Vivian Little started the explosion with a double, followed by a Lily Hernandez RBI single. Hernandez scored all the way from first on McCraw's single, aided by an error from the right fielder. Visesio then delivered a two-run home run for the 4-0 lead.
HIU loaded the bases in the second, and Visesio unloaded on Benedictine Mesa reliever Alina Sanchez, hitting a grand slam to give the visitors an 8-0 cushion.
Two hit by pitches put a pair of Redhawks on base in the bottom half, and Jenkins hit a two-RBI triple. Calderon added an RBI single to cut the deficit to 8-3.
Holmes added an RBI single in the third to make it 9-3, and the Royals tacked on two more in the fifth. Holmes doubled in McCraw, who led off with a single, and Visesio knocked in her seventh run of the game on a single to right field.
Karlie Bilbrey retired seven straight Redhawk hitters after giving up the three runs in the third. She allowed just four hits in 5.0 innings, picking up the win to improve to 7-4.
The Royals roughed up starter Alana Proskow, who lasted just 0.1 innings after yielding four runs.
HIU plays another doubleheader against Benedictine Mesa on Friday, beginning at 11:00 a.m.
