AZUSA, Calif. -- After enduring a gut-wrenching 3-2 setback in the opening game, Azusa Pacific used the superior pitching of twins Megan and Rachel Alkire to post 3-0 victory in the nightcap and come awayt a GSAC split with Concordia University, Saturday afternoon.

With the split, Azusa Pacific keeps its postseason chances alive while Concordia is dealt a serious blow in its pursuit of a first-ever GSAC championship.

In the opening game, Concordia scored 3 runs in the fourth inning all with 2 outs.  Jennifer Miklos' triple to right field scored Nicole Lev and Sarah Kammert to put the Eagles up 2-0.  Miklos then trotted home with what proved to be the game-winning run when Christa Rhine singled to right in the next at-bat.

Azusa Pacific answered with 2 runs in the bottom of the fifth.  Lorna Lyttle's 2-out triple down the rightfield line sent Trisha Rico and Cassie Lakey home to pull the Cougars to within 1 at 3-2.  The Cougars then appeared to have tied the game in the bottom of the seventh when pinch runner Holly Downard scored on Jaime Norman's sacrifice fly with 2 outs.  However, Downard was called out for leaving third base too early, thus ending the threat and the game as well.

Concordia managed just 4 hits, but 3 of them came in that 3-run fourth inning.  Meanwhile, Azusa Pacific collected 6 hits.  Lyttle and Rico were both 2-for-3.

In the second game, Lyttle's school-record 13th home run of the season, a 2-run bomb to centerfield that also scored Norman, put the Cougars up 2-0 in the fourth inning.  The rest was up to "team Alkire," who combined to post Azusa Pacific's seventh shutout of the season.  Rachel, who fired 3.1 innings of no-hit relief in the first game, went another 3.2 scoreless innings to start the second game.  It was Rachel's first appearance in a Cougar uniform since suffering a broken foot nearly 5 weeks ago.  Sister Megan came on in relief with the bases full and 2 outs in the top of the fourth inning and got Christa Rhine on a third-strike looking to end the threat. Megan picked up the win to improve to 8-7 on the season.

Norman was 2-for-3 in the game with a triple that proceeded Lyttle's bomb and run-scoring single in the fifth that pushed across Cassie Lakey for the final score.

With the split the Cougars go to 25-17 overall, 9-11 in the GSAC.  Concordia is now 34-17 and 14-6 in the GSAC.