Hope International tops OUAZ 6-3, moves on in GSAC Softball Championship

Hope International pulled away late for a 6-3 win over OUAZ on Tuesday at Great Park Sports Complex, sending Hope into the winners bracket semifinal of the 2026 GSAC Softball Championship. The result also sent OUAZ back into action Tuesday night in a 6 p.m. elimination game, while the tournament continues with another round scheduled Wednesday.

The women’s tournament matchup was tight into the middle innings before Hope created separation with a three-run sixth. Hope finished with 12 hits and no errors, overcoming OUAZ’s push back into the game after the teams were tied 3-3 through five innings. The victory matched the author-supplied summary that Hope advances, while OUAZ returns later Tuesday night with its season still alive.

Hope struck first in the second inning when Vivian Little singled home Karlie Bilbrey for a 1-0 lead. OUAZ answered in the fourth on Brianna Humphries’ solo home run to left, tying the score at 1-1. Hope regained control in the fifth when Chey Navarro singled up the middle to drive in two runs, but OUAZ responded in the bottom half. With the bases loaded, Humphries drew a walk to force in a run, and Ava Seguin followed with another run-scoring walk to even the game at 3-3.

The decisive turn came in the sixth. Breanna Lucero opened the rally with a single, and Little followed with an RBI double as Hope moved back in front. Dejalei Visesio added an RBI fielder’s choice, and another run scored on a throwing error before Gabriela Holmes drove in the final run of the inning. That sequence gave Hope the 6-3 cushion it needed to close out the round-two contest.

Little led Hope’s offense by going 4-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored, while Lucero had three hits and crossed the plate once. Navarro finished with two RBIs, and Kaitlyn Maaske earned the win after working a complete game. Maaske went all seven innings, allowed seven hits and three earned runs, walked five and struck out six to improve to 15-11. Humphries was the standout for OUAZ, going 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs. Alexis Ayersman took the loss.

The bracket picture extended beyond this game. As updated tournament notes indicated, ACU and Hope both advance to the winners bracket semifinal on Tuesday at noon, and BenU will face OUAZ in an elimination game Tuesday at 6 p.m. This recap covers the end of round two only, with one more round still set for Wednesday.