Placentia, CA- The Firestorm launched five home runs on Saturday but they were not enough as they were swept by Hope International 4-2 and 8-5.  Junior Marco Castilla connected on a home run in both games.

Game one was a classic pitcher's duel that remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning.  In fact, Junior Bobby Moretti was throwing a no-hitter until that same point.  But a home run by HIU's Justin Broussard erased both of those factors in the game.

Castilla stepped in as a pinch hitter and drilled a home run over the Yankee-ese short porch in right field to knot the game at 1-1.

After Moretti had struck out eight through six innings, he lost a little control and the Royals (9-3, 7-2 GSAC) used a hit batter, walk, and two wild pitches to score another run.

Junior Dom Rodriguez tied the game again in the top of the eighth with his first home run of the season.

But HIU plated two more runs in the bottom of the eighth to earn the win.  Moretti (2-2) was charged with the tough loss.

The day cap was scoreless until the top of the fourth when Castilla connected with his second home run on the day and third of the season for a 1-0 lead.  However, Hope International responded by putting a six spot on the board in the bottom of the fourth with the benefit of just three hits.

In the top of the sixth, Junior Gary Sheffield joined the home run derby with a shot down the left field line.

HIU tacked on two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. 

Working with their final three outs of the scheduled seven inning contest, the Firestorm (12-7, 3-3 GSAC) made the score at least closer as they plated three runs.  Senior Jake Howard doubled to right center and Junior Jonathan Nunnally, Jr. followed with a single to left center to drive home Howard- the only run not scored via the long ball by ACU.  Junior Kyle Robbins drilled his own pinch hit two run home run to right to cap the scoring.

Freshman Tyler Domene (0-2) gave up five runs though only two were earned.  The three runs allowed by the bullpen were all unearned.

On Sunday, the Firestorm will make-up one of their rainout games with William Jessup.  The teams will play on the neutral field of The Master's University with first pitched scheduled for 12:30 pm Arizona Time/ 1:30 pm AT.