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Azusa Pacific University Athletics

The Online Home of the Azusa Pacific Cougars

Softball Gary Pine

Two For The Road

LA MIRADA, Calif. – As it has several times already this season, the NAIA's No. 6-ranked Azusa Pacific used a late inning rally to pull out a victory and hold on for a rare Golden State Athletic Conference sweep at Biola, defeating the Eagles, 3-1 and 6-4.

In the opening game, Azusa Pacific scored 3 unearned runs off Biola ace Katie Gastaveson, and that was all Cougar pitcher Rachel Alkire needed as she 2-hit the Eagles for the complete-game victory, her tenth in 11 decisions this year.

With 2 outs in the top of third, Cougar third baseman Trisha Rico reached base on an error by her Biola counterpart Joanna Gray. Cougars Justine Barnett, Courtney Cleaves, Megan Alkire and Rachel Alkire strung together 4 consecutive singles to push across 3 runs. Megan Alkire's single to right was the big blow, scoring Rico and Barnett to put the Cougars up 2-0.

Meanwhile, Rachel Alkire took a no-hitter into sixth inning before Biola sandwiched a pair of singles around a Shawna Paxton pass ball to score its only run of the game. Alkire retired the final 4 batters to lock down the victory. She struck out 2 and did not walk an Eagle while allowing just 5 Biola players to reach base.

In the nightcap, Cleaves' 1-out double scored Rico and Barnett to cap a 3-run seventh inning and lift Azusa Pacific to the come-from-behind victory. Cassie Sweeney led off the inning with a walk and eventually scored on Rico's infielder grounder that tied the game at 4-4.

Biola tallied 6 of its 11 hits in the first 3 innings to run out to a 3-1 lead and chase Cougar pitcher Nicole Hendrix. Megan Alkire came on in relief and pitched 5.1 innings, striking out 3 while picking up the victory to move her record to 5-4.

At the plate, Alkire was 4-for-9 for the day with 3 RBIs and 2 doubles. The freshmen Cleaves and Barnett each had 3 hits on the day, accounting for 6 of the Cougars' 17 safeties in the doubleheader.

With the sweep Azusa Pacific improves to 22-8 overall, 5-3 in the GSAC. Biola, which suffers its first doubleheader loss at home this season, falls to 15-13 overall, 4-5 in the GSAC..

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Players Mentioned

Courtney Cleaves

#3 Courtney Cleaves

OF
5' 4"
Freshman
R/R
Trisha Rico

#10 Trisha Rico

3B
5' 4"
Senior
R/R
Megan Alkire

#20 Megan Alkire

UTL
5' 6"
Junior
R/R
Shawna Paxton

#22 Shawna Paxton

C
5' 7"
Sophomore
R/R
Justine Barnett

#23 Justine Barnett

OF
5' 6"
Freshman
L/R
Nicole Hendrix

#24 Nicole Hendrix

P
6' 0"
Junior
R/R
Rachel Alkire

#55 Rachel Alkire

P/SS
5' 6"
Junior
R/R

Players Mentioned

Courtney Cleaves

#3 Courtney Cleaves

5' 4"
Freshman
R/R
OF
Trisha Rico

#10 Trisha Rico

5' 4"
Senior
R/R
3B
Megan Alkire

#20 Megan Alkire

5' 6"
Junior
R/R
UTL
Shawna Paxton

#22 Shawna Paxton

5' 7"
Sophomore
R/R
C
Justine Barnett

#23 Justine Barnett

5' 6"
Freshman
L/R
OF
Nicole Hendrix

#24 Nicole Hendrix

6' 0"
Junior
R/R
P
Rachel Alkire

#55 Rachel Alkire

5' 6"
Junior
R/R
P/SS