Baseball Robert Nilsen

Chun-Ming and Boston Power Royals Past NCAA DIII Poets

Fullerton, CA – The No. 2 Hope International University baseball team (5-3) won their fourth game in a row as they took down the NCAA Division III Whittier College Poets 15-4 on Tuesday evening at home at Duane Winters Field in Fullerton, CA.

Jesus Munguia (1-1) picked up his first win in a Royals uniform pitching 5 innings allowing three runs on five hits while walking two and striking out eight. Branden Chun-Ming led the Royals offense going 2-for-4 with 4 RBIs.

Munguia worked around a two out walk to retire the Poets in the top of the first while the Royals struck for a big inning in the bottom half. The Royals loaded the bases with one down before Trotter Boston ripped a two run single to put the Royals up 2-0. Chun Ming then delivered a single through the left side to make it 3-0. The Royals then took advantage of an error as they batted through the order to take a 5-0 lead at the end of the first. Munguia continued to hold the Poets at bay while the Royals added another run in the bottom of the third on a one out RBI single by David Shackleford to increase their lead to 6-0. The Poets would answer with runs in the top of the fourth and top of the fifth innings to pull within 6-3.

The Royals answered in the bottom of the fifth as they loaded the bases with nobody for Josiah Chavez who drove in a run on a fielder's choice to make it 7-3. The Royals then loaded the bases again for Boston who delivered an infield single to drive in a run and put the Royals up 8-3. Chun-Ming then blew the game open ripping a bases clearing double down the left field line to give the Royals a commanding 11-3 advantage. Chun-Ming then came around to score on a balk after stealing third to make it 12-3. 

The Poets would strike back with a run in the top of the sixth to make it 12-4 but the Royals offense wasn't done either as Mario Tostado led off the bottom of the seventh with a pinch hit solo home run to left field to increase the lead to 13-4. Joey Legg then tripled before Ivan Barragan brought him home on a sac fly to make it 14-4. Later in the inning Jaden Rez ripped an RBI single with runners on the corners and two outs as the Royals took a 15-4 lead. Matthew Gonzalez, Logan Long and Chandler De Jong pitched the final three innings allowing no hits while striking out four as the Royals won 15-4.

The Royals continue action at home as they host Westcliff on Saturday, February 15 with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 PM at Duane Winters Field in Fullerton, CA