AZUSA, Calif. – One big inning by each team in each game proved to be the difference as Azusa Pacific and Cal Baptist split a GSAC doubleheader in Azusa.

Eight-time GSAC champion Azusa Pacific used a 7-run first inning then held off a Cal Baptist charge to take the opener, 12-10. The Lancers turned right around and posted an 8-spot in the fourth inning to get a 10-3 win in the nightcap.

In the opener, Ryan Marcos wasted no time in his first start of the season, hitting a 2-run first-inning home run for his first hit of the year to kick start a 7 run outburst for the Cougars. In all, the Cougars sent 11 batters to the plate in their first at-bat, getting 6 hits and sandwiching a pair of RBI singles around a pair of Cal Baptist errors to stake their way to a 7-0 lead.

The Lancers cut into the lead with a single run in the second and 2 in the fifth to make it 7-3. However, the Cougars scored twice more in the fifth and sixth innings to get a much-needed 11-3 lead. Nick Mercado finished 3-for-5 with 3 RBIs and a run, and it was his 2-RBI single in the fifth that gave the Cougars a 9-3 lead.

Robert Guiles finished 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs, including a 2-RBI double in the sixth to push the lead to 11-3. Marcos then added an RBI single in the seventh for a 12-3 Cougar advantage.

Marcos, Robbie Lindsey, Jake Haaker and Joe Billheimer each had 2 hits apiece.

Mike Medlock started and lasted 6 innings to move to 3-1 on the year. He allowed 6 hits and 3 runs, while striking out 6. Cal Baptist mounted a furious rally with 7 runs in its last at-bat, touching up Cougar closer Matt Dzama for 6 runs in just one-third of inning.

The Lancers, who in the ninth took advantage of 2 infield singles, 2 walks, a hit batsman and 2 Cougar errors, had the tying run on base with 2 outs when Joe Bitonti picked up his first save of the season by forcing CBU's Austin Thompson to pop out to Marcos at second to end the threat.

In the nightcap, the Lancers did their damage in just 1 inning as well, roughing up Cougar starter Andy Alstot by sending 12 men to the plate and scoring 8 runs in the fourth to take a 9-1 lead. Cal Baptist used a double and 5 consecutive singles to drive in 6 runs in the back-end of the inning. The inning would have continued had it not been for Dzama gunning down Steve Ferreira at third base to end it.

Azusa Pacific head coach Paul Svagdis then turned the ball over to Rory Carrillo, who kept the Cougars in the game the rest of the way, allowing just an unearned run over the final 3 innings. However, the Cougars could manage just 2 more runs in the fifth.

Guiles led off with a single and advanced to second on a walk to Haaker. Alex Valadez drove him in with a single, and Mercado drove in Shaun Beutner, who ran for Hakker, with a single. But that was all the Cougar could muster on a pair of Lancer relievers.

With the split, Azusa Pacific ends a 2-game skid and moves to 5-6 overall, 3-2 GSAC. Cal Baptist is now 5-9, 2-3.