Skip To Main Content

Azusa Pacific University Athletics

The Online Home of the Azusa Pacific Cougars

Baseball

Big Rally Keeps Playoffs In Azusa

AZUSA, Calif. -- Senior Mike Boyle's 3-run home run, his third of the season, highlighted a 7-run sixth inning that gave Azusa Pacific a come-from-behind 9–4 victory and split of its Golden State Athletic Conference doubleheader with Southern California College Friday afternoon in Azusa.

The two teams entered today battling for home-field advantage in postseason play and with the victory Azusa Pacific will host next week's four-tam, double-elimination NAIA Far West Sectional playoffs (May 8–10).

After riding the arm of Bryce Primm (8.1 innings, 4 hits, 4 strikeouts) to a rather easy 9–2 victory in the first game, SCC appeared to be headed for its first ever sweep of the Cougars in Azusa and thus bring the upcoming sectional playoffs back home to Costa Mesa.  However, the Cougars sent 11 men to the plate in that fateful sixth inning and parlayed 6 hits, including 5 singles, into 7 runs. When Vanguard reliever Joe Rivera balked home Dexter Davis with one out, Azusa Pacific had its first lead of the day at 5-4. One better later, Boyle drilled a shot over the right-center field fence to put the game out of reach at 9-4 Boil finish the game 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs. Steve Esquibel was 3-for-4 with an RBI single that tied to  a game at 4-4.

Rivera set the stage for the second game by leading the Vanguards in the first game with a 2-for–4 performance that included 3 RBIs. Matt Newton was 4–for-6 with 2 RBIs and 3 doubles to aid the SCC cause.

Azusa Pacific will now host the sectional playoffs that will include  SCC, Hawaii Pacific and a fourth team to be determined on Saturday, May 3. If Point Loma or Biola sweeps there a doubleheader tomorrow then they are in the sectional. However, if they split, then Westmont will be the fourth team.
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Dexter Davis

#1 Dexter Davis

OF
5' 9"
Senior
R/R
Mike Boyle

#15 Mike Boyle

C
6' 0"
Senior
R/R
Steve Esquibel

#26 Steve Esquibel

OF
6' 0"
Senior
R/R

Players Mentioned

Dexter Davis

#1 Dexter Davis

5' 9"
Senior
R/R
OF
Mike Boyle

#15 Mike Boyle

6' 0"
Senior
R/R
C
Steve Esquibel

#26 Steve Esquibel

6' 0"
Senior
R/R
OF