Placentia, CA- Arizona Christian launched three home runs in their 6-4 win over Hope International on Friday evening.  Sophomore Kyle Robbins blasted the pinch hit game winning homer in the ninth.

A scoreless pitching duel was the theme of the first six innings as Junior Dean Jackson allowed just one hit for ACU while HIU's Payton Lobdell gave up two hits.  A walk and single that both moved up into scoring position for the Firestorm (11-24, 8-20 GSAC) in the second was the only real threat.

That is until the seventh inning.

Senior Jake Wakamatsu led off the inning with a single down the right field line and came around to score the game's first run on an error.  HIU answered back with a run in the bottom of the inning.

In the eighth, Junior Hector Ortiz nailed his second homer of the year with a drive to left.  Junior Jake Howard singled ahead of Wakamatsu drilling his first home of the season down the right field line.

ACU's 4-1 edge did not last long as the Royals (19-25-1, 9-16 GSAC) countered with three runs of their own in the last of the eighth thanks to a single, two walks, and a double to forge a 4-4 tie.

To begin the ninth, Senior Tatum Hendrix reached on an error.  Sophomore Michael Dunnebecke sacrificed Hendrix to second.  Left handed hitting Robbins was called on to pinch hit and responded by depositing the first pitch he saw over the short porch down the right field line.

Jackson (3-5) threw eight innings giving up four runs while striking out 11 in the win.  Sophomore Wade Mason retired the side in order in the ninth for his third save of the season.

On Saturday, the teams will close out their three game set with two games at Valencia High School in Placentia beginning at 12:00 pm.