By: Generated by uReport

IRVINE, Calif. — In a championship game defined by constant momentum swings and standout individual performances, top-seeded Hope International captured its second straight GSAC Baseball Championship with an 11-10 walk-off victory over No. 4 seed Benedictine Mesa on Tuesday at OC Great Park.

Benedictine Mesa set the tone early, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Anthony Setticasi reached and later scored, while Ben Schnurman delivered a two-run double before Christian Ramos added an RBI single to cap the frame. Hope International answered immediately, as David Shackelford and Isaiah Lane set the table for Colby Moran, who drove in both runs with a double to cut the deficit to 3-2.

The Redhawks added another run in the second on a passed ball, but Hope again responded in a decisive way. Spencer Davis doubled to open the inning, and Royce Clayton followed with a bunt single to spark the rally. Shackelford delivered a two-run single to tie the game, and Moran and Eddie Cotto each drove in runs to give Hope a 6-4 advantage after two innings.

After several scoreless frames, Benedictine Mesa climbed back into the game in the sixth. Christian Ramos worked a walk and later scored, while Tyler Jackson’s RBI single and a Hope error allowed the Redhawks to even the game at 6-6. Hope regained a 7-6 lead in the bottom half when Shackelford singled and eventually scored on Moran’s sacrifice fly.

The game’s biggest swing came in the seventh, when Benedictine Mesa erupted for four runs. Schnurman opened the inning with a solo home run to tie the game, Oliver Davies followed with a triple, and Ramos delivered an RBI double. Jackson then drove in two more with a double down the line, pushing the Redhawks in front 10-7 and putting them within reach of the title.

Hope International responded with equal urgency in the bottom of the seventh. Matias Nolasco singled to start the inning, and David Allen followed with a base hit. Clayton drove in a run with a single, and Shackelford delivered again with a two-run single to tie the game at 10-10, finishing a four-hit, four-RBI performance.

Relief pitching steadied the game late, with James Williams holding Benedictine Mesa in check over the final innings to give Hope a chance to complete the comeback.
In the ninth, with two outs and the score still even, Clayton stepped to the plate and delivered the championship moment, launching a walk-off solo home run to seal the 11-10 victory and the GSAC title.

Hope International totaled 18 hits in the win, with Clayton scoring three times and driving in two, while Moran added four RBIs. Benedictine Mesa finished with 10 runs on 10 hits, highlighted by Schnurman’s three RBIs and multiple contributions throughout the lineup.