MESA, Ariz. – In a high-scoring affair at Hohokam Stadium, No. 1 seed Hope International defeated OUAZ 12-4 in an elimination game at the GSAC Baseball Tournament. The game concluded on Tuesday morning after a power outage had delayed the game on Monday night.

Hope International set the tone early with a three-run home run by Amari Bartee in the second inning. The offensive surge continued in the third inning when Matthew Pinal hit a two-run homer. 

OUAZ responded in the bottom of the third, with Logan Meyer’s RBI single and Christian Powell’s two-RBI single narrowing the deficit to 5-3. Hope International added to their lead in the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly by Julian Francois. Spencer Davis contributed an RBI single in the fifth inning, and Mario Tostado’s solo home run in the sixth extended the lead further.

The eighth and ninth innings saw additional runs from Hope International, including an RBI single by Tostado and a two-RBI single by Francois.

On the mound, Hope International’s Josh Landry earned the win, pitching five innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits while striking out two. Pinal closed the game with four scoreless innings, striking out four and securing his first save of the season. OUAZ’s Gavin Burns took the loss, giving up five runs on five hits in 2.2 innings.

The win keeps Hope International alive in the tournament, where they advance to another elimination game on Tuesday at approximately 3:30 p.m.