AZUSA, CALIF. -- The Azusa Pacific bats continued to sizzle in GSAC play and as a result produced another doubleheader sweep for the Cougars, who took 2 from Point Loma Nazarene, 27-3 and 5-1, this afternoon in Azusa.
Through 5 GSAC games this season, Azusa Pacific has tallied a whopping 77 runs (15.4 avg.).
In the opening game, the Cougars scored a school-record 18 runs in the second inning and led 22-1 after 4 inning of play. All-GSAC catcher Justin Duarte was 2-for-3 with 4 RBIs, including 2 off his fourth home run of the season in the fourth inning. Third baseman Bobby Sanchez was 3-for-3 with 3 runs and a pair of RBIs. Senior DH Karel Castro went 2-for-4 at the plate with 5 RBIs. Junior centerfield Brian Griffin was 4-for-5 with 4 runs scored and 3 RBIs.
The Cougar offensive onslaught overshadowed the 2-hit, 4-strikeout pitching performance of freshman Kelly Strickland, who improved to 3-0 on the season with a 1.62 ERA.
In the nightcap, Crusader pitcher Erik Erwin slowed the Cougar bats through 5 innings, holding Azusa Pacific to just 2 runs. However, a trio of Crusader errors in the sixth inning and Castro's 2-run pinch-hit single led to 3 Cougar runs to break open a tight game. Senior first baseman John Knott was 2-for3 with a run and an RBI. Sanchez was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored.
Senior pitcher Fritz Maskrey fired his second straight complete-game victory, limiting Point Loma to just 4 hits and 1 unearned run while striking out 4. He pushed his record to 2-1 on the season.
With the sweep, the Cougars improve to 10-2 overall and remain undefeated in the GSAC at 5-0.
