3/4/10 - The Eventual Alonzo Not Enough

By Tim Gooszen

La Mirada, CA- With the exception of the first inning of Game 2, Sophomore Alexis Alonzo pitched a whale of a ballgame with nine strikeouts on Thursday.  Unfortunately, Hope International could not find their hitting groove and lost their GSAC doubleheader to Biola 6-0 and 6-0.  Alonzo, pictured, was one of two Royals to reach base safely on more than one occasion via two walks.

Game one started out on the right foot as Freshman Kayla Uphold singled to start the game.  A sacrifice bunt by Freshman Danielle Thomson moved Uphold up to second.  Though Uphold was moved to third on a ground out to second, she was left stranded at third.

An error by the Eagles in the second provided the only base runner for the Royals until Freshman Leslie Coffee doubled leading off the sixth.  She was left stranded by three groundouts.

Meanwhile, a homerun by the Eagles opened the scoring in the second.  Two hits, including a triple, produced two more runs for Biola in the fourth.  An error plated two more runs in the fifth.

Uphold fell to 5-3 with the loss.

The Royals had their chances in the second game but could not come up with the big hit.  Double plays ended scoring threats for HIU in the second and fifth.  Two walks and a sac bunt put runners at second and third but a groundout ended the inning.  Another double play put an end to the Royals’ hopes in the seventh.

As for Biola, a grand slam homerun capped the five run first inning.  They added a run in the third.

Soon after the last run, Alonzo found a major groove.  Starting with the third out in the third inning, she struck out seven of the next nine batters she faced.  Needless to say the Eagles had just one more base runner the rest of the game as Alonzo was nearly untouchable.

On Friday afternoon, the Royals leave for Tucson, AZ, where they will play seven games in three days.  The first of those games comes against Siena Heights, MI, on Saturday at 9:00 am (MST).

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